









; ^*» 



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THE 



Sunday Schools 



OF LAKE. ^ 



V 



AN ACCOUNT OF THE COMMENCEMENT AND GROWTH OF 

THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE COUNTY, 

INDIANA, FROM ABOUT 1840 

TO 1890. 



A SEMI-CENTENNIAL VOLUME. 



" One soweth and another reapeth." 








vfe'iN/' 



Editor and Publisher for the Lake County S. S. Union. 

CROWN POINT, INDIANA. 

1891. 



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Copyright, 1891, 
BY T. H. BALL. 



"Whoever occupies a station of moral influence — a 
station where his labor lies among the most perilous 
material with which man can intermeddle, the affections 
and dispositions and wills of other people — must have 
amazing self-reliance or deplorable callousness, if he is 
not frequently crushed down by the solemnity of his 
position/' Rev. James Hamilton. 








By cool Siloam's shady rill 

How fair the lily grows! 
How sweet the breath, beneath the hill, 

Of Sharon's dewy rose! 

Lo! such the child whose early feet 

In wisdom's ways have trod, 
Whose youthful heart, by influence sweet, 

Is upward drawn to God." 



PERFECT History, including the events of many 
years, has not been written. Man does not in any- 
thing easily attain perfection. 

A good degree of accuracy may be attained in his- 
torical research; but written records, made at the time 
the events took place, may bear some traces of the 
imperfection of human observation, and the recollec- 
tions of past events are liable to be more or less 
imperfect. 

I believe this book is the first of its kind in the 
State of Indiana, and have endeavored to make it as 
accurate and as near to perfection for such a work as 
the circumstances would permit. T. H. Ball. 



Wednesday, August 27, 1890, the 25th Anniver- 
sary of the Lake County Sunday-school Convention, 
was observed as also the 50th Anniversary of Sunday- 
school work in Lake county. To the observance of this 
double anniversary this memorial volume owes its exist- 
ence. The records in this volume were prepared for 
that occasion or arranged for this work on account of 
that occasion. 

The exercises of that day were held at the Fair 
Ground. The weather was all that could be desired for 
an out-of-door gathering. For the closing of August 
it was a perfect day. And as enjoying such a day in 
this grove, where the crowds gathered on three memor- 
able days in 1884; where some, whose memorials will be 
found on these pages, have enjoyed with many of us the 
basket dinners of past years; where children, who will 
meet here no more, have mingled their sweet young 
voices in prayer and praise; as though on this ground, 
with these associations, and in this presence of a large 
assembly, let the readers of these pages imagine them- 
selves hearing on one long, delightful, August day, the 
story of our Sunday-school work for fifty years. 



After the devotional exercises of that morning the 
Secretary of the Convention, said: 

"Mr. President: As this year of 1890 is, according 
to our reckoning, the fiftieth year of our Sunday-school 
work, and as I seem to be left almost the only remain- 
ing member of the earliest schools organized in our 
county which have continued to this year and day, it 
seems appropriate for me to offer a few introductory 
words. We hold this year, for our twenty-fifth anniver- 

5 



6 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

sary exercises, a semi-centennial celebration of the 
Sunday-school work in Lake county; and if any were 
present here of the Sunday-school poineers — so far as I 
know there is not one of them now living — I think they 
would be disposed to say, 'We came here into this 
beautiful and fertile region, not long after the Indian 
title to the land was extinguished, and before it could 
be owned by any individual white man, and we brought 
with us our Bibles and the Christian Sabbath, and our 
love for the spiritual welfare of others. And where 
those Indians had so lately worshiped the Great Spirit 
we gathered our children and our neighbors' children 
into schools on the first day of the week, and began 
to teach them the teachings of the Bible; and now, as 
fifty years are closing, there can be named and counted 
ninety schools that are or have been in this county of 
Lake organized by ourselves, our children, and our suc- 
cessors. Truly may it be said, in an ancient form of 
words, " What hath God wrought ?'"» 

The Secretary continued: 

" Mr. President: As appropriate for such a celebra- 
tion, quite largely, — I hope not too largely, for we all are 
interested, or ought to be interested, in reviewing some- 
times work that has been done by others, — quite largely 
the exercises for this day are to be historical and com- 
memorative; and, if we may speak of our Sunday 
schools as bulwarks and towers, as we might call our 
churches palaces, we may use again to-day an ancient 
form of speech and say, c Walk about Zion and go round 
about her; tell the towers thereof; work ye well her 
bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to 
the generation following. For this God is our God for- 
ever and ever; he will be our guide even unto death/ ' 

This was the introduction to the exercises of the 
day. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 1 

The singing of the day was by the Crown Point 
Methodist Episcopal school, the Crown Point Presby- 
terian, the Merrillville school, the Cedar Lake Union 
school, the Eoss Congregational, the Lake Prairie Pres- 
byterian, and the Dyer Union school. 

There was also a song by fifty girls, which will be 
given near the close of these records as here arranged 
for this bright summer day. 



I. INTBODUCTOKY NOTES. 

Lake county occupies the northwestern corner of 
Indiana. The city of Chicago, which once was twelve 
miles from the State corner-stone on the shore of Lake 
Michigan, now extends for more than four miles along 
the west side of the county of Lake. The width of this 
county is sixteen miles, according to its sections. Lake 
Michigan, with its grand waves and its huge blocks of 
ice in spring time, washes it on the north and gives it a 
beautiful beach of pure sand, with some magnificent 
sand hills, along which grow the native white pines. 
The Kankakee Kiver forms its southern boundary, a 
river that, with its broad northern expanse of island 
grove-dotted marsh land, and with its many bayous, has 
been for more than fifty years almost inaccessible from 
the north to horsemen or to footmen. Between river 
and lake on the east side the distance is about twenty- 
eight miles. On the west side it is nearly thirty-seven 
miles. The entire surface area is about five hundred 
square miles. 

In 1832, the year of the Black Hawk War, the 
Indian title, except to some floats, was here extinguished. 

In 1834 permanent settlement here by pioneer 
families commenced. These settlers were called " squat- 
ters." 



8 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OP LAKE. 

In 1836, January 28th, by an act of the Indiana 
Legislature, the county, as a civil division, was formed 
out of then existing counties, Porter and Newton, and 
the infant county of Lake was attached to Porter in 
respect to civil jurisdiction . 

By another legislative act, January 18, 183?, it was 
declared that Lake should be an independent county 
after February 15, 1837. 

The land had been laid out into townships and sec- 
tions by United States surveyors in 1834. 

In 1839, the land came " into market," and the 
United States land sale was opened at La Porte, March 
19th of that year. 

In 1840, by a re-location, Crown Point became the 
county seat. 

Of the five hundred square miles of surface here, 
about one hundred are in the noted Calumet Region; 
and seventy-five are in the Kankakee Region, in that 
remarkable valley of lowland and sand ridges and 
island groves, of which in Indianathe re areabout five 
hundred square miles. 



II. SUNDAY-SCHOOL PIONEERS. 
Upon the newly surveyed Government lands, before 
Lake county was formed, a very few families made 
claims, erected log-cabins, and became pioneer settlers 
in 1834. Other families came in 1835. And into the 
new county of 1836, and the organized, independent 
county of 1837, laying claim to some of the beautiful 
prairie and to more of the open woodlands, many more* 
families came and established homes for their women 
and children, by building, with axe and hammer, their 
cabins, with stick and mud chimneys, in the woodlands 
and in the groves. The open prairies, the home of 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 9 

tens of thousands of pinnated grouse, where roamed 
the prairie wolves and fed the deer, remained tenant- 
less. In a strip of woodland, some six miles south 
from the center of the county, named by one of the 
pioneers Pleasant Grove, a settlement was formed in 

1835 by some Bryant families and others, and the local- 
ity for a few years was called Bryant Settlement. 
Among these were E. Wayne Bryant, one of the early 
Methodists, and Elias Bryant, one of the earliest Pres- 
byterians. 

In 1837 Ephraim Cleveland, a Methodist, settled in 
this grove, other Methodist families having already 
settled northward. Pleasant Grove therefore became an 
early church and Sunday-s'chool center. • Here was 
organized, probably, the first Methodist class in the 
county. The date assigned by Mrs. S.G-. Wood, who 
has studied the Methodist history of this county, is 1836. 
According to official authority, the Conference Minutes, 
which the writer of this had the privilege of examining 
at the home of Rev. W. J. Forbes, in Valparaiso, not 
long before his death, in 1834 Stephen R. Ball was 
stationed on the South Bend Circuit, and in that year 
there were no settlements, properly so called, and but 
few settlers in what became Lake county. In 1835 
Deep River Mission was formed, Stephen Jones Mission- 
ary, and in the latter part of that year some small 
neighborhoods were found by him in this county. In 

1836 Jacob Colclazer was Missionary. 

In 1837 Hawley B. Beers. (The Conference appoint- 
ments, it should be borne in mind, do not begin 
with January and end with December; and also, men 
are appointed sometimes and the labor is performed by 
others. The Conference Minutes, therefore, and our 
own pioneer knowledge of the actual facts do not 
always seem to agree.) 



10 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

In 1*38, Samuel K. Young was Missionary. Settle- 
ments had extended southward, and in 1839 Kankakee 
Mission was formed, William J. Forbes Missionary. 
On his entire field, taking more than Lake county, 
were then about one hundred members. The pioneers 
had come, but as yet no mention appears of Sunday 
schools. 

Near the southwest part of the up-land of the county, 
on West Creek, a little neighborhood was formed of 
Hathaway and Hayden families with some others, and 
here was another early Methodist center. Still another, 
a third, was in the eastern part of the county at 
Hickory Point. 

Another early church and Sunday-school center was 
at Orchard Grove, in the south part of the county, 
where Charles Kenney, who had been a Sunday-school 
man in, Maine, near Augusta, and afterward near Ban- 
gor, made his home in January, 1838, with two sons 
and other members of his family, coming the whole dis- 
tance from " down east" in Maine, in a wagon drawn 
by four horses. 

A family that would thus travel that distance, 
in the winter time, over the roads that then were or 
were not, would be expected to bring with them New 
England hardihood and enterprise, intelligence and 
religious principle. Well may such be numbered among 
our Sunday-school pioneers. 

In the summer of 1837 claims were made about five 
miles southwest of the center of the county, at Cedar 
Lake, on the west side, by Hervey Ball, of West Spring- 
field, Massachusetts, on the southeast and south by 
Lewis Warriner and Norman Warriner, also natives of 
West Springfield, these being three of the Baptist pio- 
neers of the county. These, in connection with the 
Church and Cutler families, of Prairie West, two miles 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 11 

north of Cedar Lake, settlers from New York in 1836, 
commenced immediately to hold religious meetings. 
They united together as a church June 17, 1838, Eider 
French, of Porter county, being present and conduct- 
ing the business exercises. This church was officially 
recognized by a " council " as the Cedar Lake Baptist 
church, May 19th, 1839. Norman Warriner was soon 
ordained as pastor here. And here, so far as may now 
be known, was organized, was probably organized, the 
first Lake county Sunday school. (Other schools "will 
assert their claims to this distinction, and by the 
readers all the claims should be fairly weighed.) Of 
this Cedar Lake school, Hervey Ball was superintendent. 
It was organized as a Union school, and a Union school 
for fifty years it has remained. 

As the history of these Baptist pioneers has been given 
in "The Lake of the Bed Cedars," a volume of 357 
pages, and as the history of their school will in this 
volume be given, no further mention need be made of 
them here. Whether their school should date 1839 or 
1840, cannot now be determined. 

Passing now to the center of the county, where the ear- 
liest settlement was made in 1834 and 1835, by men not 
members of any church, Mrs. Fancher, wife of Eich- 
ard Fancher, of Fancher's Lake, and Mrs. Harriet 
Warner Holton, both among the settlers of 1835, were 
the first Presbyterian pioneer women. Mrs. Holton 
was a widow coming here with two sons, known as 
Warner and William, and one daughter. She was born 
in Massachusetts, January 15, 1783. In some respects 
she was the most remarkable woman ever a resident in 
Lake county. In addition to these two, there came in 
1836 Mrs. Eddy, the first wife of Russell Eddy, with 
one son and two daughters. She was than a Baptist 
from Troy, New York, but soon became a Presbyterian, 



12 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

and one of the most active members of the Presbyterian 
church when that church was at length organized. To 
her the credit probably belongs of giving Bible instruc- 
tion to children before any others had commenced this 
work in the county. Her husband, who outlived her for 
many years, stated that she gathered her own children 
and those of her brother, Henry Wells, and some other 
children, into her room at some hour on Sunday, and 
together they read and studied the Scriptures. This 
was in 1838, or possibly in 1837. But this gathering 
was not called a Sunday school, and no formal school 
was opened in the hamlet days of " Lake Court House," 
Soon, however, a shepherd came. Kev. J. 0. Brown, 
Presbyterian pastor at Valparaiso, came into Lake 
county in January, 1840 ; preached at Cedar Lake 
(then, probably, the most prominent religious center in 
the county, where the first Baptist, Presbyterian, and 
Lutheran sermons were preached); found Elias Bryant, 
at Pleasant Grove, Mrs. Woodruff at Orchard Grove, 
the Woodbridge and Humphrey families from New 
England, on Eagle Creek Prairie; found Mrs. Fancher, 
Mrs. Holton, and Mrs. Eddy, and commenced meetings 
in the " Old Log Court House." This building, erected 
by the enterprise of Solon Kobinson and others, in 1837, 
became not only the county court-house, but was church 
and lecture hall for the village and county for ten or 
more years. 

Here Elder Warriner, of Cedar Lake, who became a 
resident of Crown Point, and Mr. Brown, both of whom 
began to preach regularly in the audience room, with the 
Baptist pioneers of Cedar Lake, and the Presbyterian 
women who have been mentioned, organized and carried 
on the Crown Point Union Sunday school, whether in 
1840 or 1841 can not now with certainty be determined. 
Mrs. Strait, of Chicago, formerly Miss Josephine Bob- 



THE SUNDA? SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 13 

inson, daughter of Solon Robinson, then a child and a 
member of Mrs. Eddy's class in that school, can not 
with certainty place the school earlier that 1841. Mrs. 
Susan Clark, a niece of Mrs. Eddy, also a member of 
that school, can give no date with certainty. Three of 
us remain who were children in that school then. The 
teachers, the officers, the founders, have passed away, 
and written records are not to be found. One early 
member of the Presbyterian church remains, known 
for these many years as Deacon Mason, seventy-nine years 
of age, and he attributes largely the organization of the 
school to Elder Warriner, the first resident minister in 
Crown Point, but cannot give a certain date. Early in 
1843, Elder Warriner removed to Illinois, and in the 
spring of that year, Rev. M. Allman came from Michi- 
gan, and became a resident in Crown Point. He was 
a Methodist, English by birth and training; i( a local 
preacher of more than ordinary ability;" and he, for a 
time, took part in this Union school. 

The fifty years' history of this school will be given in 
its place by one of its present active members. 

The third school to be noticed here, it may possibly 
have been the first in the county, was in that grow- 
ing neighborhood of Pleasant Grove. As some are 
yet living who were interested here, and as illustrating 
the difficulty in determining, among seven pioneer 
schools, which was in reality first, the date of organiza- 
tion of not one of the seven having been found, the full 
evidence in regard to this school will be presented. 
Ephraim Cleveland, who died in 1845, was the first, and 
until his death, the only superintendent. His son, T. 
Cleveland, a lawyer of Crown Point, thinks the school 
was organized in 1842 or 1843. E. W. Bryant, an 
active Methodist, who settled here in 1835, has been 
already named. His daughter, Mrs. Maria McCarty, 



14 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

now of Indianola, Iowa, thinks the school was organ- 
ized in 1840 with Ephraim Cleveland as Superintendent. 
She says that " he and her father, Mrs. Cleveland, Mrs. 
Br v ant and two others " were the teachers. Mr. B. 
Bryant, a son of E. W. Bryant, writes, that in the sum- 
mer of 1835 John Kitchel arranged with E. W. Bryant 
for the two families to meet in the home of the latter 
" every Sabbath and read the Scriptures and have some- 
thing like a Sunday school." Referring to this his 
sister, Mrs. McCarty, writes : " I do not think there was 
any organization at that time." — Young readers may be 
reminded that the question now under consideration is 
connected largely with the memory of children. These 
living and giving testimony now were quite young chil- 
dren then. — Now, according to the Claim Register, the 
oldest documentary evidence in Lake county concern- 
ing its early settlers, E. W. Bryant came here as a set- 
tler in 1835, but the evidence from that Register is that 
John Kitchel came in 1836. But Mr. Bryant further 
says, that the first regularly organized Sunday school, 
according to the best of his recollection, was held in the 
house of Ephraim Cleveland. He says, " This was, I 
think, in 1837." But he adds, " It was the summer 
following the fall that Mr. Cleveland came to Lake 
county." There is no conflict of testimony, it is per- 
fectly established that the Cleveland family came in 1837. 
Mr. Bryant's last statement, therefore, will place the 
organization of the Pleasant Grove school in 1838. Here, 
again, Mrs. McCarty says, " When the Sunday school 
was organized I think there were fifteen or twenty schol- 
ars and perhaps five or six teachers." To this date of 
1838 there appears one objection. That summer was 
one of " severe drouth and great sickness." In propor- 
tion to the number of inhabitants it was a summer of 
many deaths. " The summers of 1838 and 1846 are 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 15 

the two most noted for sickness in the annals of Lake." 
At Cedar Lake, where there was quite a strong church 
organization, the record for the summer of 1838 says, 
" From continued distressing sickness, no meetings were 
held until the latter part of winter." This is after a 
record of meetings for five Sabbaths. And this sick- 
ness was very general in all the neighborhoods and set- 
tlements. Judging from the fact of that prevailing 
sickness, which some of us yet living remember well, it 
would almost seem that the Pleasant Grove school 
could not have been earlier than 1839. 

The fourth to be noticed, among these seven schools, 
was at West Creek, where the Hathaway and Hayden 
families settled. A Methodist church building was 
erected here in 1843, and in this building, probably in 
the same year, a school was organized . Peter Hatha- 
way had three sons, Silas, Abram, and Bethuel. Of 
Silas it is said, "He was a good man, a useful citizen, 
a beautiful singer;" and as a singer he would surely 
find a place in the school. His father, probably his 
brothers also, took an active part in the school. Others 
who are named as active members by almost the only 
survivor of these early settlers, Mrs.. Spalding, were, 
John Fisher and wife, Cooper Brooks and wife, Lyman 
Foster and wife, A. D. Foster, and Mrs. Hayden, wife 
of Nehemiah Hayden, one of those early settlers; also 
Andrew Moore . The Superintendent was Adam Ham- 
ilton, called " Father Hamilton," and he seems to have 
continued in office most of the time till he removed to 
Momence. He at length removed over the river, and 
then passed over the viewless river. He was evidently 
another of those good and useful men whose names as 
pioneer, church, and school workers should be kept by 
their descendants in lasting remembrance. 

The fifth of these schools was at Hickory Point, 



16 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

where a Methodist church building was erected about 
1844. The facts gleaned in regard to this school will 
be elsewhere given. In that neighborhood great 
changes have taken place. It does not look like a 
church center now. 

The sixth of these seven schools recognized as our 
earliest organizations, is the school at Orchard Grove. 
Charles Kenney, the Sunday-school worker from Maine, 
opened a school in his house, with eight or nine chil- 
dren as the scholars, about 1842. He also conducted a 
school in the log school-house at Plum Grove about the 
same time, but that school was not kept up. The one 
commenced in the Kenney home is the present Orchard 
Grove school. 

The last of these pioneer schools to be here named 
was organized at Southeast Grove, by Orlando V. Ser- 
vis, perhaps in 1839, perhaps in 1840. Among the 
Grove Schools its history will be given. 

There are found, then, thus far, as the family names 
of our Sunday-school pioneers, men, women, and chil- 
dren, among the Methodists, Bryant, Cleveland, Hath- 
away, Hayden, Hamilton, Allman, Servis, Kenney; 
among the Presbyterians, Holton, Fancher, Eddy, 
Humphrey, Woodbridge, Bryant; among the Baptists, 
Warriner, Church, Cutler, Ball. Of the Methodists 
there were probably others whose names in other con- 
nections will be found, and especially the name of Rev. 
Robert Hyde, a local preacher, if not an appointed 
missionary, active and young in 1839, who lived in this 
county several years and died in Chicago in 1883. 



CENTER PRAIRIE. 

One of our early schools, commenced perhaps as 
early as 1842, was held at the home place of William W. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 17 

Paine. Here was for a few years a place for regular 
Methodist preaching. A class was organized, of which 
W. W. Paine was leader. Of the school J. Foley was 
Superintendent. This locality is a little more than two 
miles south and west from Crown Point, on the road to 
Creston and Cedar Lake. The school was not in exist- 
ence long, as all those early families soon removed from 
the county. At this school took place an instructive 
incident. The lesson for the day was in Acts, chapter 
23. They had reached verse 23, where mention is made 
of two hundred soldiers, of three score and ten horse- 
men, and of "spearmen two hundred," and about the 
latter, which they called sparemen, they began to talk. 
Some wondered if these were men they had to spare,, 
so were sending them away, or perhaps they were thin, 
lean, spare men. At length, the Superintendent him- 
self is credited with asking, "What does spear spell, 
anyhow ? " And some one suggested the ordinary pro- 
nunciation, spear. They were of a class that knew well 
what spears were, and in an instant the meaning of the 
whole verse was clear. This school was composed 
mainly of those whom the settlers from the East called 
hoosiers. Their school advantages had been few. The 
instruction is this : If a knowledge of the English 
alphabet and of the proper pronunciation of common 
words is needful to enable Sunday-school teachers and 
scholars to understand the meaning of the English 
Scriptures, may not yet more knowledge be desirable 
and needful ? May it not be desirable to gain a fair 
knowledge of the ordinary laws of language, of the 
general principles of interpretation, even of Oriental- 
isms, of poetic, of rhetorical figures, of the deeper 
principles involved in the structure of language ? To 
state the deeper, underlying principle on which many 
now profess to rely, is it safe to expect the Holy Spirit to 



18 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

teach one and to guide one, in reading the Scriptures, 
in respect to those things ordinarily taught in the 
schools ? Ought not all Sunday-school teachers to 
learn, or try to learn, how to read well, how to pro- 
nounce words correctly, and to gain all the knowledge 
practicable from the ordinary lesson helps ? Can one 
become too intelligent for obtaining and explaining 
correctly the meaning of the Scripture ? The members 
of the Center Prairie school were zealous, they were in 
earnest. Their devotion and their earnestness entitled 
them to large respect. They would have welcomed 
gladly the " helps " of our day. They improved their 
opportunities for gaining more knowledge. Their lead- 
ers have a right to a place among our pioneers. 



III. THE PRESBYTERIAN SCHOOL OF CROWN POINT. 
A EIETT YEARS' RECORD. BY MRS. J. FISHER. 

Fifty years ago Elder Norman Warriner, a Baptist 
clergyman; J. C Brown, a Presbyterian minister; Mrs. 
Russel Eddy, Mrs. Richard Fancher, Mrs. H. Holton, and 
Miss Harriet Holton, elect women, moved by a desire to 
serve the Master and save perishing souls, met in the old 
log court house in Crown Point, and organized the first 
Sunday school in the county, in 1840. It was a Union 
school in which Baptists, Methodists, and Presbyterians 
labored together for the Lord, the ministers superin- 
tending when present, and Mrs. Eddy in their absence. 
The Cutler and Church families of Western Prairie 
and the Ball. family of Cedar Lake also attended. In 
1843 the Methodists, under the leadership of Rev. 
Major Allman, withdrew and formed a school of their 
own. The Baptists and Presbyterians continued the 
school until 1846, when the Presbyterians, under the 
pastorate of the Rev. William Townley, having built a 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 19 

new church, left the court house, retained the name of 
Union till about 1856 (and then continued as a Presby- 
terian school), superintended by the pastor, who 
remained ten years. 

In 1859 J. L. Lower was installed as pastor of the 
church. He was an earnest worker in the Sunday 
school, and, being a fine musician, did much to improve 
it. He was ably assisted by Mrs. Sarah Eobinson, a 
loving worker for the little ones; Eev. John Binney, a 
Baptist minister who took a deep interest in Sunday- 
school work, and Miss Mary E. Parsons, principal of 
a young ladies' school, a devoted Christian woman of 
high culture and strong influence, of whom the church 
record of a revival in 1860 says: "A remarkable fact 
respecting this revival is that nearly all who came for- 
ward are or have been pupils of Miss Parsons' school." 

The school was usually superintended by the pas- 
tors. Mrs. Almon Foster was Superintendent in 1865 
or near that time. 

In later years Mr. Charles P. Griffin was for ten 
years our efficient and beloved Superintendent, labor- 
ing faithfully for the upbuilding and advancement 
of the school, only resigning when called to serve the 
State as Secretary. He was followed by Professor 
Voorhees, principal of the public school, who was suc- 
ceeded in 1889 by our pastor, Eev. L. W. A. Luckey, 
under whose fostering, prayerful care the school is gain- 
ing in numbers and, we trust, in spirituality. 

For many years Mrs. N. C. Cornell did excellent 
work both as organist and teacher, first of a boys' class 
and then of the young ladies' class. 

From 30 pupils in 1861, 35 in 1863, 40 in 1865, the 
school now numbers 103 pupils and 10 teachers. For 
several years we have had a birthday box in which 
teachers and scholars deposit as many pennies as they 



20 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

are years old, which is sent to aid the Sunday-school 
work in needy portions of the country. We have also 
taken a collection for this work Children's Day, and for 
two years the school has sent a Christmas offering to 
the Waifs' Mission, in which all have joined, even the 
infant class. What are the results of this work? Only 
the Master can tell. Of its pupils one, Mrs. Annie Turner 
Morgan, spent eight years in India as a Baptist mission- 
ary. Two are leading ministers of the Gospel: Henry 
Johnson, D. D., pastor of a large Presbyterian Church 
in South Bend, a man of culture, piety, and wide influ- 
ence; and Edwin A. Schell, a prominent Methodist 
minister now in Yonkers, ]\ T . Y. Hon. Charles F. 
Griffin was associated with the school as scholar and 
superintendent many years, and many others who, 
though not so prominent, are doing good work in the 
Lord's vineyard. 

The additions to the church membership have come 
largely from the Sunday school. Of one class of young 
ladies (Mrs. Ainsworth's) all but one united with our 
church, and she with the Episcopal. So we labor in 
hope, knowing that God will bless us if we do our work 
faithfully. Of those who first organized the school not 
one remains. All have gone to their reward, and their 
works do follow them. 



Mrs. Harriet Warmer Holto^ . It is fitting that 
somewhere, amid the records of Lake county, should be 
found more than a passing notice of one, who, fifty-five 
years ago, then in middle life, came with a little band 
of pioneer settlers into this almost unbroken solitude. 

As authority for reviewing, even briefty, such a 
life as was hers, I might refer to the Scripture nar- 
rative, as given by Mark, of that woman who anointed 
the Saviour of the world before he suffered, and of 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 21 

whom he said: "She hath done what she could." Of 
her a record was made to go down through all the 
coming time. Of other women since that day, follow- 
ing the example, not only of the New Testament, but 
also of records in the Old Testament, memorials have 
been preserved of their virtues, and trials, and good 
deeds, by those who had no special guidance to teach 
them what to say, and what to leave unsaid; and these 
memorials form choice portions of the wealth of bio- 
graphic literature. The example and the lessons of a 
long life may have for us and others a permanent value. 
The teaching which I would interweave in this brief 
review may be drawn from the record given us by John 
concerning Mary of Bethany, who, in Bethany, anointed 
the Saviour's feet with a pound of very costly ointment. 
Surely, it was this same Mary, who is mentioned by 
Mark, who was in Simon's house, and who anointed 
also the Saviour's head. The teaching is this: That 
relationship to Jesus of Nazareth in heart, in life, in 
good deeds, forms the choicest and most imperishable 
memorial that can immortalize a woman. Station, 
wealth, power, beauty, talent, may cause names to live 
long in time's annals; but if a woman's name is not 
written in the Lamb's Book of Life, the time is coming 
when it must sink into darkness, if not into oblivion, 
forever. 

It may not be possible, as an actual fact, for any 
member of the human race to pass into absolute forget- 
fulness; for, in the unending ages of the existence be- 
fore us, in that mighty future which we sometimes call 
eternity, there may be recalled, in perfect memories, 
one by one, an image and a thought of every loved and 
lost one of all this unnumbered race. As to this I 
know not; but I have a right to be sure, whatever 
comes, whatever yet may be, that the Life Book names 



22 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

will shine in resplendent glory in the great kingdom of 
the future. 

Hakriet Warner, daughter of General Warner, 
was born in Hardwick, Massachusetts, January 15, 
1783. It was that eventful year which witnessed the 
closing scenes of the American Eevolution; the year in 
which, on the historic 19th of April, the cessation of 
hostilities was proclaimed in the American Army; in 
which, on September 3d, the treaty of peace was signed 
at Paris; and in which, the army disbanding November 
3d, Washington, taking leave of his officers at New 
York, resigned to the Congress at Annapolis his com- 
mission as Commander-in-Chief, December 23d, and 
retired to Mount Vernon. 

Commencing her infant existence before any of these 
events, Harriet Warner, who became Mrs. Holton, 
remained among us as one of the very few connecting 
those times with our own until the autumn of 1879. 

Of the incidents of her childhood and youth almost 
nothing is now known. She had two brothers, William 
Augustus Warner, years ago a wealthy citizen of Mas- 
sachusetts, and Jonathan Warner, a business man of 
Boston. She had seven sisters. Miss Harriet Warner 
commenced active life as a New England teacher in 
Westminster. She there became acquainted with a 
young law student, Alexander Holton, to whom she was 
married about the year 1804. In 1816 the young Hol- 
ton family left the comfort and cultivation of New 
England for the Western wilds. It was the year in 
which Indiana became a State. Among the Seneca 
Indians, in Big Valley, whose chief was called Corn 
Planter, who were engaged in January, 1817, in mak- 
ing maple sugar, the migrating party spent two weeks. 
Then they continued their route through the woods to 
the Alleghany river. Fifteen miles back from the 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 23 

river sugar-making was again carried on. Along the 
bank of the river cabins were built for a brief sojourn; 
but in March they moved down to Vevay, Indiana, laid 
out as a town in 1813, and there settled in 1817. A 
law office was there opened, and among the law students 
in that office were John Dumond and Samuel Merrill, 
the latter of whom was afterwards a citizen of Indian- 
apolis. Perhaps wealth did not rapidly accumulate, for 
in 1820 the Holton family removed to Yernon, in Jen- 
nings county, where Mrs. Holton resumed for a time 
her early occupation of teaching. Here, in 1823, her 
husband, the lawyer, died, having then five law students 
in his office, leaving Mrs. Holton with two sons and one 
daughter, and with no large accumulation of property. 
Here for eleven more years the family remained. The 
sons had reached manhood, the one daughter had 
become a woman. Then, through Solon Eobinson, 
who left Jennings county and found the wild, invit- 
ing, attractive region that became Lake county, in 
October of 1834, tidings came to them that a fine 
opening for enterprise and for securing new homes 
in a fertile, prairie region, was then waiting for 
adventurers; and with little delay, even in midwinter, 
joining William Clark and family, Mrs. Holton, with 
her daughter and son, W. A. W. Holton, set out from 
Jennings county for the northwestern corner of Indi- 
ana. Something of the hardship and suffering of that 
February journey, in wagons drawn by oxen, may be 
found recorded in " Lake County, 1872," pages 27 and 
28. That month of February, 1835, was, as a winter 
month, unusually severe; it was no sugar-making 
month, like the January of 1817; and that they actu- 
ally crossed the Kankakee Marsh Eegion with their ox 
teams, and came up into the southwestern part of this 
Lake county, amid the cold, fierce, freezing winds of 
that February, is remarkable. 



24 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

The Holton family, the other son, J. W. Holton, 
with his wife and two little children, arriving a few 
days after the others, settled where is now Crown Point, 
making the third family for the little hamlet. 

Here, once more, Mrs. Holton, then fifty- three years 
of age, resumed the occupation of her early life, and 
became the first teacher in Lake county. She taught 
through the winter of 1835 and 1836. From this time 
until the infirmities of- age came on, Mrs. Holton was 
active in doing whatever her hands found to do. 

About 1840, perhaps a little earlier, or a little later, 
she made a visit to New England, at the time of her 
mother's death. That mother was about ninety-four 
years of age. Then, at Enfield, once more the eight 
sisters met. These were: Mrs. Robinson, wife of the 
wealthy Governor of Vermont; Mrs. Stuart, wife of 
Judge Stuart, of Vermont, a man of wealth as well as 
of position; Mrs. Bradley, wife of a Vermont lawyer; 
Mrs. Brown, wife of a Massachusetts lawyer; Mrs. 
Hitchcock, wife of another Massachusetts lawyer; Mrs. 
Jones, whose husband was a fine penman, a copyist 
before the days of type-writing; Miss Warner, who 
never married; and Mrs. Holton, the pioneer woman at 
Vevay, the jDioneer woman at Crown Point, a widow- 
then, and the earliest teacher of children in Lake 
county; worthy to hold a sister's place among women 
of wealth and social position in cultivated New Eng- 
land. These eight sisters were all members of the 
Presbyterian church; and all died of old age, two of 
them while sitting in their chairs. 

After the return of Mrs. Holton to Crown Point, after 
the organization of the Union school in the log court 
house, after the organization of the Presbyterian church 
at Crown Point in 1844, and of the completion of the 
church building in 1847, she still remained an active and 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 25 

a useful woman. As the years passed and changes came, 
her home was transferred from Crown Point to the farm- 
home of her son, J. W. Holton, usually called Warner, 
some four miles northeastward from Crown Point on 
Deep River. Here there was hut little for her to do 
except to engage in household duties. The infirmities 
of age came creeping on. A letter from Capt. Wood- 
bury, a neighbor, written before March, 1878, says: 
"My acquaintance with Mrs. Holton commenced about 
twenty years ago or over, perhaps twenty-four years. 
She then would walk from her son Warner's to my 
house, two miles, with apparent comfort. She being a 
special favorite with my wife it was a great pleasure to 
have her visit us. What made it more interesting, she 
having a retentive memory and a well stored mind, all 
her natural faculties improved, she could converse on 
any topic; and as I had plowed the sea most of my life 
she was fond of inquiring of different parts of the Old 
World. Indeed, it was a great pleasure to converse 
with one that could go so far back in the past. She was 
specially fond of vocal music, of course the tunes of her 
younger days. My wife and myself would sing for 
hours for her. As she had at that time lost her voice I 
asked her if she regretted losing her voice. She said, 
f ]STo. I can hum it over in my mind and it sounds to 
me as well as it ever did/ When we would urge her to 
partake of a more hearty meal, she would reply that 
' eating was like conversation. You could have too 
much to be digestible.' In 1864 was the last time she 
visited us. We have been several times to see her." 
Mentioning a visit in August, 1 875, the letter continues: 
" She had lost her sight and was hard of hearing. Her 
son, William, asked her if she knew different neighbors, 
naming them. She replied, ' Yes; ' then correcting 
herself said, ' No, I guess not.' He then asked her if 



26 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

she knew Mr. Woodbury. ' Yes; I guess I do/ was the 
quick reply. ' Where is lie? I must see him. Oh, 
dear! I can not see you either. Give me your hand/ 
* * * ' On that blissful shore we shall see each 
other there, where this mortal body shall put on immor- 
tal bloom. I shall see you there/ " There is to the let- 
ter a postscript, 1878, March 23d. The last visit. "Her 
daughter-in-law asked her if she remembered Mr. Wood- 
bury. '\ guess I do. Where is he? Give me your 
hand. I want to see you. Oh, I shall never see you 
in this world again. Oh, I am so impatient to go; 
but the Lord does all things well. We shall meet in 
the other world, and we shall know each other there/" 
This is the last recorded interview. Mrs. Holton 
died October 17, 1879, almost ninety-seven years of age. 
As the burial procession came in sight of Crown Point 
from the Deep River home where she died, the then new 
court-house bell was tolled; the first and the last time 
its deep tones have been heard at any of our burial pro- 
cessions. A fitting tribute it was on that day, as it 
announced the fact that the mortal remains of no ordi- 
nary woman were nearing the place of burial. Such a 
woman, in such a long life, the daughter of an army 
leader, with her native intelligence, her New England 
training, her granitelike, Presbyterian principle, her 
devotion, her meekness, her love, must in various ways 
have accomplished no little good. And I am glad that 
among our Sunday-school pioneers, in this county of 
Lake, we may record the name of Harriet Warner 

HOLTON . 



IV. FIFTY YEARS AROUND CEDAR LAKE. 
The date of the organization of the Cedar Lake 
Union Sunday school has not been exactly ascertained. 
The shadow of obscurity and of uncertainty that covers 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 27 

so many events in the far distant and mighty past 
comes very near, sometimes, to this present in which we 
live. In an early Lake county diary has been found the 
exact date of the opening of one of our earlier schools. 
Diaries are not very generally kept by children, and the 
date of many an event that may sometimes be of inter- 
est is left solely to a fading or an overburdened mem- 
ory. Annalists become therefore useful in a community. 
Well said a writer in the Sunday School Times, " The 
collection and preservation of perishable memorials of 
local antiquarian history is one of the most praiseworthy 
of literary tasks." To rescue what can yet be saved 
from oblivion of our earliest Sunday-school work in 
this county is one of the objects proposed for this 
anniversary . 

A few only are now living who, as children, true 
pioneer children, living here in those interesting years 
of frontier life before 1840, were present at the first 
singing, and first prayer, and first reading of the Script- 
ures when was organized the Cedar Lake Sunday 
school. This may have been in 1839. It may have 
been in 1840. And, in view of the probabilities, so far 
as the circumstances can be recalled, this is the date of 
organization that is claimed. Considering also the 
various circumstances, it is assumed that this school was 
the first of the pioneer schools of the county. It was 
organized on the northwest side of Cedar Lake, at the 
home of Hervey Ball, who was the first Superintendent, 
and who continued to be superintendent through most 
of the years until 1867. The school was continued in 
the same locality (the large log school house, built in 
1838, being occupied as church and Sunday-school 
room) until 1849 or 1850, when the school house south- 
east of the lake, near the home of Mr. Horace Edgerton, 
became the place for Sabbath preaching and for Sunday 



28 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

school. In the ten years of school life on the west side 
much good had been accomplished through the faithful 
teaching of the Scripture. Not long after the organiza- 
tion of the school a visitor came in, who seemed to enjoy 
the exercises, and who was evidently interested in the 
frontier Sunday-school work. Soon after his return to 
his New England home a gift of library books came to 
Cedar Lake from a school in Massachusetts. After- 
wards funds were raised and a well selected library was 
obtained from the American Sunday-School Union. 
One of the Ball family became school librarian. (Accord- 
ing to the memory of one member of this family, Mrs. 
E. H. Woodard, of Grove Hill, Ala., born in 1829, in 
these books was written " Cedar Lake Union S. S., 
1840." If this recollection is correct — no book can now 
be found to verify it — the school must have been organ- 
ized in 1839. The reader has already been reminded 
that in regard to many facts connected with our pioneer 
schools the only dependence is the memory of child- 
hood). These books were diligently read, and for 
many years carefully kept. Several of the members of 
the school became church members, and one remarkable 
instance of conversion took place apparently in connec- 
tion with one Sunday-school lesson. (Lake of Eed 
Cedars, page 68.) 

In the new locality the school continued to prosper. 
Within five years, from January, 1850, to April, 1855, 
some twenty-two members of the school became mem- 
bers of the Cedar Lake Baptist church. These twenty- 
two were: 

Enoch S. McCarty, Daniel Davis, Polly Jane Edger- 
ton, Calvin Taylor, Judson Cutler, Lucy Taylor, 
Esther Edgerton, Martha Cutler, Jonathan McCarty, 
Heman Ball, Elisabeth Vinnedge, Laura Thompson, 
Alvin Taylor, Mary Jane Ball, Catherine Scritchfield, 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 29 

Jane Scritchfield, Susan Davis, Nancy Ann Scritch- 
field, Sophia Palmer, Catherine Taylor, Amy Mann, 
and Henrietta Ball. Some of these are not living now, 
and some are still active Christian workers in this busy 
world. That Cedar Lake church disbanded January 17, 
1856, but the Union Sunday school continued. It 
seems to have had the " grace of continuance." 

A new school house was erected a half mile further 
south, and to this, as its place of meeting, the school 
was removed. The west side library went along with 
the school. At this, its third locality, the following- 
persons were superintendents: Mr. Pratt, 1868; Phi- 
lander Cross, 1869; Samuel Love, 1870-74; Elsie 
Palmer, 1875; Mrs. B. Stuppy, 1876. 

Hervey Ball, then known as Judge Ball, died in 
1868, having been for more than twenty-five years a 
Sunday-school superintendent , and surely one of the 
earliest in the county. Ephraim Cleveland, of Pleasant 
Grove, who died in 1845, and 0. V. Servis, of South 
East Grove, who also died many years ago, share with 
him the honor of having been our earliest pioneer 
superintendents; and it seems impossible to determine 
now in which of four localities, whether at Pleasant 
Grove, at South East Grove, at Cedar Lake, or in the log 
court house, was really opened the first Sunday 
school. 

When the church building at Ores ton was ready 
for use, in 1876, the locality of the Cedar Lake school 
was again changed. Superintendents at the church 
building since 1876: Victor Gear, 1876; Eeuben C. 
Wood, 1877-1880; Aleck Scritchfield, 1881; Alfred 
Edgerton, 1882; 0. G. Taylor, 1883; M. A. Nichols, 
1884; J. E. Love, 1885; Mrs. J. Hill, 1886; George 
Edgerton, 1887; Edward Stonix, 1888; B, F. Cross, 
1889, 1890; George Taylor, 1890. 



30 THE SUKDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

The school had shown its ability, in accordance with 
the impulse and tendency given it by its founders, to 
remain undenominational for some sixteen years in con- 
nection with a living and growing Baptist church. 
For twenty years it lived without any church life near 
it. And that same ability it has possessed for now 
fourteen years in connection with the Methodist church 
at Oreston. Its members work in harmony with the 
church; but in electing its officers, in carrying on its 
affairs, it is independent of church action. 

Through the first ten years of its existence this 
school was at the religious center of a community liv- 
ing on Prairie West, on the west side of West Creek, 
and on the east of Cedar Lake. Some came in wagons, 
some on horseback, some crossed the lake in boats. 
Sabbath boat rides were taken in those days by mem- 
bers of that community, but not for pleasure. They 
were going to the place of meeting or returning to 
their homes; and some of the children were reminded 
of the boat rides and the fishing, in the Saviour's time, 
on that noted lake in the Holy Land. Those who 
carried on the school had been accustomed to Sunday 
schools in other and older settled States. Of the helps 
used in those days, question books, commentaries, 
Bible dictionary, there was no lack . The teachers had 
shared largely in literary and religious training. The 
best Sunday-school books published were read by the 
children. It was a New England school of those days 
transplanted into the new, wild West. 

In its second locality it was still attended by those 
on the west side, and it became here a very important 
agency in the training of quite a group of enterprising 
young people. 

Among its members now are children and grand- 
children of those who were members in the earlier years. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 31 

Inheritors of the traditions, although not of the pleas- 
ant associations of the past> may many of these live to 
reach our hundredth year. 

The following belongs to the later records of this 
school: 

"A RECORD." 

Every year, month, and day, has its joys and also 
its sorrows. The Cedar Lake Union Sunday school, 
one of the oldest in the county of Lake, has lately lost 
one more of its members — a pupil in the years of her 
childhood and youth, a teacher in her early womanhood. 
Miss E. Jennie Taylor, on the last clay of the past 
year, on Tuesday morning, Dec. 31, 1889, passed from 
the confines of time ; passed from her Oreston home to 
the great home of the redeemed. Her grandmother, 
Mrs. Lucy Taylor, a woman of more than ordinary 
endowments of person and mind, was a pioneer settler 
at Cedar Lake in 1836, and died Dec. 10, 1869, 77 years 
of age ; her mother, a pioneer child, a winsome Cedar 
Lake girl in 1840, now Mrs. Julia A. Taylor of Creston, 
is still living with her husband, 0. G-. Taylor, in their 
village home ; but from out that home, Esther 
Jennie, born May 11, 1868, like her grandmother and 
mother, a Christian, a church member, winsome in her 
social relations, pleasant in her home as a daughter and 
sister, has passed into the relations of another and to 
us a viewless life. She dwells among those that are 
unseen by mortal eye. Six sisters and three brothers 
went forth into homes of their own, and their little 
children, growing up around them, are, many of them, 
members of the Cedar Lake Sunday school. 

A few only of the early members of that school are 
now living, but the little children come trooping in. 
So broken ranks are more than filled. Although in 



32 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

failing health for the last year, even for the last three 
years, sister Jennie attended at Crown Point the last 
county Sunday-school convention, the meeting of the 
Old Settlers' Association, the county fair, and the 
Grand Army encampment at Lowell, riding out and 
meeting her friends so long as strength would permit. 
On Thanksgiving day she was out of the house and 
played once more upon her organ. She knew she was 
soon to leave this earth. She made what arrangements 
she wished to make, and, patient, resigned, hopeful, 
trustful, as became a Christian girl who had just entered 
womanhood, conscious to the last and true in her kin- 
dred and church relations, she fell asleep in Jesus. 
''Asleep in Jesus! blessed sleep, 
From which none ever wakes to weep." 



Belonging to the fifty years of teaching the children 
around Cedar Lake there should not be omitted a record 
of the Bed Cedar School. This was held at the Bin- 
yon school house on the east side, nearer to the lake 
shore than any other school, not far away from Cedar 
Point, and fittingly it bore the name of Eed Cedar. 
It was probably first commenced by Andrew S. Cutler, 
now Dr. Cutler, of Kankakee, and his first wife, an 
active, energetic, Christian woman, who died in 1865. 
This school was carried on by these two young and zeal- 
ous workers, in 1864. 

It was re-opened by T. H. Ball and Mrs. M. K. 
Hill, with others, in 1884. Cedar Lake had now 
become a great pleasure resort, yet a very interesting 
school was for a time kept up here, and many children 
and young people received the precious, life-giving 
teachings of the Scriptures. 

Changes among the families soon took place, and it 
was impracticable longer to continue the school or any 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 33 

religious services at the Ked Cedar school home. Mrs. 
Hill found other Sunday-school work to do at Oak 
Grove, where her short life soon closed. The Eed 
Cedar school, like several others that have been in our 
county, belongs now only to the past. 



V. PLEASANT GKOVE. 

Under the heading of "Sunday-School Pioneers" 
seven schools were named as having been organized 
somewhere between 1838 and 1843. A certain date 
was found for none. Assuming 1840, or, according to 
the recollections of Mr. B. Bryant, then a boy about ten 
years of age, 1839 or 1838, as the date of organization 
for Pleasant Grove, it remains now to place on record 
what further facts have been found concerning this 
early school. It is placed beyond question that Ephraim 
Cleveland was the first superintendent and that he con- 
tinued in office until his death in 1845. E. W. Bryant 
was his successor and the school was still at the Cleve- 
land house. It is in the personal knowledge of the 
writer that in 1847 William Pleasant McCarty, then a 
young public school teacher and Methodist church 
member, was Superintendent. The following is a diary 
record: " September 26, 1847. Went to Pleasant Grove 
in the morning. Delivered an address to the Sunday 
school." "After the school attended a prayer meeting. 
Most all were young. Quite interesting." That address, 
as delivered, written out in full, now lies on this manu- 
script copy. It was, perhaps — that word is very need- 
ful in the statements which these researches authorize- 
— the first address to a Sunday school written in this, 
county. Another diary record is, date October llth-5: 
" Yesterday went down to the Pleasant Grove Sunday- 
school again. A person was expected to address the) 
school, as it was then to close, but he did not come," 



34 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

So the diary writer gave an unwritten address. The clos- 
ing referred to in the diary record was probably in order 
to go into winter quarters. Evergreen schools in Indi- 
ana were not so common then as now. Echo says, not 
too common now. 

In this summer of 1847 the school was held in the 
Grove school house, and when removed, either in the 
spring or in 1846, it had been reorganized by Kev. 
Robert Hyde, the then young Methodist preacher of the 
county. Who succeeded W. P. McCarty is not known. 
Eev. G. W. Taylor was then living near the school 
house in Pleasant Grove — from 1845 to 1849 — and he 
and his large family would naturally be interested in 
keeping up the school. Probably no change in officers 
for some time took place. 

In a few years a church building was erected south 
of the school house, in the same grove, and to this the 
school was removed. Two dates are found for this 
church building, 1851 and 1853. Here the Pleasant 
Grove Sunday school was kept up (superintendents, 
T. Cleveland, Adam Hamilton Jr., and C. Templeton, 
perhaps others) until the present town of Lowell was 
founded and that began to be a school and church cen- 
ter. In 1863, at Pleasant Grove, C. Templeton was 
Superintendent, and this schoorcommenced, at his sug- 
gestion, visiting the neighboring schools at Lowell and 
Orchard Grove for the purpose of gaining more knowl- 
edge in school methods, and for stimulating each other 
in the work. This exchange of school courtesies led to 
the large Sunday-school assembly at Lowell in August 
of 1863. Then, it is said, Judge Ball, of Cedar Lake, 
proposed that a similar assembly should be held every 
year. This led to the county organization in 1865; 
after the summer assembly that year on the east side of 
Cedar Lake. Thus singularly the two pioneer schools 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 35 

of Pleasant Grove and Cedar Lake co-operated in form- 
ing the Lake County Sunday-School Union. 

Mrs. S. G-. Wood says: "Lake County, 1884/' page 
196: "In 1870 the M. E. church of Lowell was built, 
and accordingly the Pleasant Grove church was aban- 
doned and all concentrated in this new one in Lowell." 
At this time, it would seem, if not before, the Pleasant 
Grove school, as such, ceased to exist. The Cedar Lake 
school changed its locality three times, but it has pre- 
served its name and kept not very far from the lake. A 
church center Pleasant Grove has ceased to be. For 
thirty years such a center it truly was. 

VI. THE GROVE SCHOOLS. 

It is taken for granted that all readers of this book 
have access to a map of Lake county. The location, 
therefore, of these schools need not be marked out. Of 
South East Grove it may be said that it^is rather the 
finest upland grove of the county, nearly circular in 
form, covering an area of about one mile, and compris- 
ing parts of four sections. Here an early settlement of 
enterprising families was made. Early family names of 
this grove are: Morris, Parkinson, Smith, Servis, 
Flint, Ketchum, Thompson, Brown, Wallace, Craw- 
ford, Bray, Fisher, Cochran, Durland, Kingsbury, 
Post. These are found between 1835 and 1850. Some 
of these families were Methodist and some Presby- 
terian. 

The date once found for the organization of the 
first school here was 1845; but researches made this year 
lead to an earlier, yet an uncertain date. 

From Louis Parkinson, a resident in 1837, it has 
been ascertained that the first school was organized by 
Orlando V. Servis in his own log cabin, which "cabin/' 
Mrs. William Brown, of the Wallace family, states, 



36 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

"with eighty acres of land, was purchased by Lyman 
Wallace in 1842." Mrs. Brown further says, that when 
the family came in 1843, a log building, on land then 
or afterward owned by Gibson Parkinson, was used for 
school, church, and Sabbath school; and that 0. V. 
Servis or Eobert Thompson generally superintended the 
school. The school, then, was in existence before 1842, 
and had its second locality in 1843. The date of settle- 
ment of 0. V. Servis is 1837. The very sickly season 
of 1838 followed, and the probability is that the school 
could not have been opened and carried on before 1839 
or 1840. Here again, unexpectedly, we find a school 
that may claim, with three others, to have been the first. 
0. V. Servis "was an Episcopal Methodist and one of 
the live workers in the church." Eobert Thompson 
was a Methodist local preacher. We can not well place 
this school later than 1841. How much earlier it was 
is not sure. 

In 1850 was built the frame school house and again 
the locality of the school was slightly changed. After 
the removal from the grove of 0. V. Servis, Joseph 
Bray was chosen superintendent and he was succeeded 
by John Martin, Samuel Parkinson, Leroy Doak, Alex- 
ander Turner, and H. Boyd. Mrs. Parkinson, now liv- 
ing in Hebron, was an active member of this school, 
and gave the children a strawberry festival, one summer, 
in her own shaded yard, from her own productive vines. 
The Crawford, Brown, and Doak families were also 
active in carrying on this school, and for several years 
it ranked among the first and the best of the country 
schools of the county. With Orchard Grove, Plum 
Grove, Lake Prairie (and Eobinson Prairie and Center 
while they were in existence), it was always reliable for 
sustaining the County Convention. For making pas- 
toral "donations" there was not a better school in the 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE, 37 

county. This school closed in 1885, the schools in the 
church buildings at Le Roy taking, to some extent, its 
place. It is probable that South East Grove, so long a 
church and asocial center, where so many gatherings 
of various kinds have been, with all its native beauty 
and its sheltered situation, will be added to the other 
places in the county, where, in this generation, there 
will be no more Sunday school and no more churcli. 

At Orchard Grove, also, there was an early settle- 
ment of intelligent families. The organization of the 
school here by Charles Kenney in 1842, has been men- 
tioned. When the small frame school house was built, 
the school was held there with the same Superintendent; 
one of the sons of J. M. Kenney, who is still living, 
and is the Orchard Grove merchant and postmaster, 
succeeded his father in the same position, and the office 
has, since his retirement from its active duties, been 
rilled by G. "W. Handley, the constant and faithful 
Superintendent for many years, by L. Wallace, and by 
G. Ragon. 

It has been quite a large and useful school. As 
Orchard Grove, where Rev. J. C. Brown preached for a 
time, soon became an established point for Methodist 
class meetings and preaching and quarterly meetings, 
the school has been denominational. The school house 
location is pleasant. 

The third of these schools bears the name Plum 
Geove, and in regard to its organization there is no 
uncertainty. It was organized in the fall of 1852 by 
the Eev. William Townley, Presbyterian pastor at 
Crown Point, but organized as a Union school. So far 
as is now known Joseph Bray, of Southeast Grove, Dr. 
Brownell, and Allen Hale, were the earlier superin- 
tendents. About 1856 th© main charge of the school 



38 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

came upon Mrs. M. J. Dinwiddie, who was generally 
Superintendent and a teacher until about 1882. Super- 
intendents since have been Martin Nichols, Mrs. Nettie 
Henderson, and Mrs. L. V. Pearce. Although first 
opened in the fall, the school was for many years> 
like most other of our country schools, only a summer 
school; but in the fall of 1875 it was proposed to make 
it " evergreen," and T. H. Ball, who since 1864 has 
usually been the Plum Grove pastor, acted through the 
winter as Superintendent. E. W. Dinwiddie was Secre- 
tary. Eighty members were in attendance. The 
experiment proved to be a success. There were cold 
winds on the ten miles of prairie between Crown Point 
and Plum Grove, but the Superintendent and his trusty 
steed, the dark brown " Zella," did not fear winter 
storms. 

Prom the school at Plum Grove many have gone 
forth to become active Sunday-school workers in Kansas 
and Nebraska, in Missouri, and in other points of the 
great West. 

It was a beautiful sight on one of those memorable 
Sundays, years ago, when the then sixteen members of 
the Dinwiddie family, the mother, the children, the 
grand-children, were all present in the school. The 
grand-children of the Dinwiddie and Pearce families, 
numbering now some thirty-five, form not a small por- 
tion of the Plum Grove Union school.* The Superin- 
tendent and Treasurer of this year, Mrs. Pearce and 
Miss Jessie Bryant, are members of the one family; and 
the secretary until August, John A. Dinwiddie, and the 

*Note.— Mrs. Pearce, who is still living, and the husband of Mrs. 
Dinwiddie were brother and sister, both among the pioneer settlers of 
Lake county. So these thirty-five children all are cousins. Of these 
children, too young- to be even in the infant class, Herbert Ray Din- 
widdie, son of E. W. Dinwiddie, passed up to Paradise, out from his 
mother's arms and love, September 17, 1890. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 39 

secretary since August, Elmer Dinwiddie, are members 
of the other. 

The McCann and. the Hale families, though not 
equalling the other two in numbers, have for long years 
borne their parts well in this school. And members of 
other families have for a longer or shorter time taken a 
deep interest in the school, and aided nobly in sustain- 
ing it. An interesting record of a young and remarka- 
ble child member, Juno Henderson, may be found in 
" Lake of the Red Cedars/' pages 297-301. She died 
when between nine and ten years of age, probably the 
most mature Christian child that has been trained in 
any of our schools. 

Many have gone from this school to become active 
workers in the newer States. 



The following, copied from "Our Banner," of May, 
1888, may fittingly close the record of this school: 
" Friend after friend departs; 
Who has not lost a friend? " 

Lake county has lately lost another very active and 
devoted Sunday-school teacher, superintendent and 
friend. Mrs. M. J. Dinwiddie, a daughter of Joseph 
Perkins and of Mrs. Elizabeth Cook Perkins, was born 
in Rome, New York, May 5, 1818, became a Christian 
and a church member in youth, commenced active life 
as a teacher, was planning to become a foreign mission- 
ary, but came to Illinois on a visit, and was married 
there, Aug. 19, 1844, to John W. Dinwiddie, of Lake 
county, Indiana. Settling in Lake county, and in 1852 
at Plum Grove, her active disposition found, besides 
family duties, work to do in advancing temperance 
Sunday schools and home and foreign missions. She 
became a member of the Cedar Lake Baptist Church, 
May 3, 1851, and was, for the last ten years of her life, 



40 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

a member of the North St. Baptist Church, at Crown 
Point. Quite a view of her life, of her home, and of 
her children can be found in " The Lake of the Red 
Cedars," and need not be repeated here. Her special 
school work commenced in 1852, at Plum Grove, and 
her interest and active efforts in behalf of the county 
work ended only with her life. She died March 15, 
1888, leaving five children and nineteen grand-children. 
The writer of this sketch, who is himself three-score 
years of age, who began Sunday-school life in this 
county some forty-eight years ago, feels that his earlier 
associates in this work are passing, one by one, away. 
During the few years that he may yet live, while there 
are in his field thousands of children whom he loves, 
and for whom, in part, he lives, he will not cease to 
cherish the memory of Mrs. Dinwiddle, of Plum 
Grove. 

center school. 
This school, a record having been kindly furnished 
a few years ago by an early secretary, J. P. Downs, 
was first organized by Mrs. Bell Mitchell, wife of 
Simeon Mitchell, in 1864. It was re-organized in 1869 
by Joseph Bray of South East Grove, who died May 24, 
1890, at the home of his son in Jasper county, sixty- 
eight years of age. 

Miss Melissa Hain afterwards carried on this school 
successfully for some time — Superintendent in 1870 
when quite a large number of young people attended 
the school — and the last Superintendent was Mrs. L. V. 
Pearce. 

VII. MERRILLVILLE METHODIST SCHOOL. 

It seems impossible now to find out when or by 
whom the first school was organized in Merrillville. Mr. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 41 

Hiram Barton reports a school in existence in 1851, 
and that he, only twelve years of age then, was a 
teacher, and that one of the now well known business 
men of Crown Point, Paul Raasch, was a member of his 
class. He names as interested in this school Mr. 
Francis Pinnell, who perhaps organized it in 1850, who 
afterward died in Michigan, being 96 years old. The 
burial services, H. Barton, in September, 1881, attended. 
Concerning this, probably, first superintendent in Mer- 
rillville, Francis K. Pinnell (P. M. Knoll having been 
the second), quite a record, published just after his 
death, is now before me. According to this record his 
father, James Pinnell, born in England, having resided 
in London, came to this country in 1733, settled in 
Jamestown, Virginia, served seven years in the Revolu- 
tionary War, a member of General Washington's body 
guard. In Jamestown Francis R. was born in 1785, 
became a member of the Methodist church in 1800, was 
educated at Stanton College, Virginia, was licensed to 
exhort in 1803, took part in political life, was sheriff of 
Logan county, was Judge of the County Court, was a 
member of Colonel R. Buckley's Light Horse Company 
in the War of 1812, and in 1835 settled in Berrien 
county, Mich. In that county he was township clerk, 
school inspector, justice of the peace, and county sur- 
veyor, having been assistant surveyor of the Michigan 
Central railroad from Nilesto Michigan City. When he 
became a resident of Merrillville in this county does not 
appear, but he could hardly have remained here many 
years. Mr. Barton is quite sure that he was not only 
interested in Sunday-school work but was actually 
Superintendent about 1850. While therefore he was not 
one among our pioneers — in Michigan he was a pio- 
neer — he was quite an early laborer here, and should be 
remembered by us in this semi-centennial year. His 



42 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

name does not appear in the record soon to be given, 
but the name of one of his sons is there found. 

The school of 1851 could not have been a permanent 
school. While searching for facts in Merrillville, an 
old Sunday-school secretary's book was placed in my 
hands in which was the following: 

"■ This is to certify that the Merrillville Sunday- 
school was organized by the Methodist church, May 5, 
1862, in Merrillville, Lake county, State of Indiana, at 
nine o'clock." 

First Officer's and Teachers. 
Superintendent, Thomas Pinnell; Assistants, John 
Underwood and Mrs. Lucinda Green; Secretary, James 
Hemenway; Librarian, I. B. Pierce; Treasurer, George 
Nicholson. 

Teachers. — No. in Class. 

1. Mrs. Sarah Lewis 6 

C. Hiram Case 4 

3. Bennet Bates 4 

4. Daniel Lindsey 4 

5. William Frasier 4 

6. Anah Hernenway , 4 

7. Frank Barton 4 

8. Mrs. R. Sawyer 5 

9. John Merrill 4 

10. Minerva Saxton 3 

11. Emily Newton 5 

12. Bible Class, Teacher, John Underwood 9 

Number of scholars first Sunday , 47 

A record follows of fifteen Sundays. Probably of the 
first season. Record kept of number of verses recited the 
first year. The highest numbers are: Ruth Ann Green, 
512; Amy Anderson, 606. Total by the school, 1,983. 
This school having twelve classes in 1862, has no 
doubt continued through varied experiences until the 
present time. Its members have taken not a little inter- 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 43 

est in the annual gatherings of the county Convention, 
and have shown interest in the county institute and mis- 
sion work. Of this school from 1864 to 1872, Hiram 
Barton was Superintendent. Since 1872 the superin- 
tendents have been: Mrs. M. J. Hyde, 1872-1879, by 
whom it was made an evergreen school; Myiel Pierce, 
1880-1888; S. Wayman, 1888-1889; C. L. Merrill, 
1890. 

It has been among the substantial, reliable, evergreen 
schools, a power for good in the community. 



VIII. THE HOBART SCHOOLS. 

The date of 1851 is assigned to the organization of 
the first school at Hobart. This was organized by H. 
N. Wheeler and did not long continue. The second 
school was organized in 1863, by S. Stilwell and W. H. 
Rifenburg. It did not prove to be permanent. In 
1864 or 1865 a school was organized by Mrs. Nickerson, 
by Mrs. Wadge, the wife of one of our State senators, and 
by some others with them, at the Hobart school house. 
This school has been kept up year after year until the 
present time. It was a Union school. After the com- 
pletion of the Methodist church building the school 
was held in the church. When the church needed 
repairs in 1876 the school was again held in the school 
house, and then removed to the Unitarian church, as a 
denominational school was commenced in the Method- 
ist church. The Hobart Union school became prac- 
tically, if not for a time in name, a Unitarian school, 
and has generally been the leading school of Hobart". 
Mr. W. H. Rifenburg has usually been its Superintend- 
ent, and as he is an active, popular, influential, genial, 
business man, the school would naturally have material 
prosperity. Each summer this school goes on a pleasure 
excursion to the shore of Lake Michigan, accompanied 



44 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

usually by the other schools of the town. The school 
has had quite a large library. 

The Hobart Methodist school was organized after the 
re-opening of the church building in 1876. Mrs. S. 
Kean, now Mrs. S. K. Kice, was Superintendent. Her 
daughter, now Mrs. J. M. Whitmore, was Infant-class 
teacher, her class at one time numbering eighty-live, 
being then the largest in the county. This was a large 
and flourishing school in 1881, and has continued to 
maintain much interest and life, with some decrease at 
times in number. Superintendents have been : Mrs. 
Kice, Abel Wood, Mrs. Whitmore, and H. C. Hanson. 
Twelve members of the school have this year become 
church members. 

In 1883 was organized the Christian Union Sunday 
school, of Hobart. Superintendent, Abel Wood ; 
Assistant, W. B. Ballentyne; Treasurer, A. K. Garhart. 
The sessions of the school were first held in the old 
brick school house, afterward in what is known in 
Hobart as the Chapel room, and finally the school was 
removed to the tabernacle church, after that building 
was erected. In the Band tabernacle building a Con- 
gregational church was organized May 16, 1885, and 
the school was adopted by the church, and soon became 
the Hobart Congregational Sunday school. It is now 
quite large and flourishing. Superintendents, A. Wood 
and E. Stelow. 

The German Methodist school at Hobart was organ- 
ized about 1874. 

F. F. Frank, who was this year married to the cul- 
tivated organist of the Crown Point German Methodist 
school, has been for many years the Superintendent. 

The Swedish Methodist school was commenced 
about 1887 by J. E. Mannder, an educated and culti- 
vated Swede, who was this year nominated for State 
Senator of Lake and Porter counties. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 45 

The school is now prosperous. Superintendent, 
Ellis Anderson. 

The Swedish Lutheran school in Hobart is prosper- 
ous, having sixty members. This is the only Lutheran 
school in the county that has taken any part in a Con- 
vention anniversary. This school united in the exer- 
cises at Hobart in 1888. It seems to the writer that all 
Evangelical schools, all that could be represented in the 
Evangelical Alliance, might, if sufficiently American- 
ized, unite in a county Sunday-school inter-denomina- 
tional convention . Are denominational lines to sepa- 
rate us in everything? How fittingly at such a conven- 
tion might be sung No. 198, in Gospel Hymns: 



" Lift up, lift up thy voice with singing, 

Dear land, with strength lift up thy voice! 
The kingdoms of the earth are bringing 
Their treasures to thy gates — rejoice! 

Chorus — Arise and shine in youth immortal, 

Thy light is come, thy King appears! 
Beyond the Century's swinging portal 
Breaks a new dawn — the thousand years. 

And shall his flock with strife be riven? 

Shall envious lines his church divide, 
When he, the Lord of earth and heaven, 

Stands at the door to claim his bride? 

Lift up the gates! bring forth oblations! 

One crowned with crowns a message brings, 
His word, a sword to smite the nations; 

His name, the Christ, the King of kings. 

He comes! let all the earth adore Him; 

The path his human nature trod 
Spreads to a royal realm before Him, 

The Life of life, the Word of God." 



46 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 
IX. LAKE HOME. 

The following Memorial wijl give the organization 
of this school and other items of interest concerning it. 

It is taken from Our Banner of October, 1887, 
and is part of an official report as made at the twenty- 
second anniversary of the county Convention. 

The following was the closing part of the Secretary's 
report at Lake Station, August 31, 1887: 

Death has visited our ranks more frequently than 
usual within the past year. On Sunday morning, Feb- 
ruary 6th, of this year, Carrie D. Hipsley, fifteen years 
of age, a girl of much promise, a member of the Salem 
school, was called away from earth; and three days after, 
on Wednesday, there followed into the unseen world 
Clara Isabel M. Davis, not quite fourteen years of age, 
a member of the Dyer school. Clara when only nine 
years of age made public profession of her faith in the 
Saviour and her love to him, and became at that early 
age a church member, leaving thus a bright example 
for all our children. She was a well beloved young sis- 
ter in the Lord. We miss these bright and loved ones, 
young Carrie and Clara, from our throng to-day; and 
there is yet one more whom largely we all must miss, 
the energetic, active, and beloved superintendent of this 
Lake Home school, sister Ella Lincoln. Her death was 
truly here as when a standard-bearer falleth. It seems 
appropriate to present the following brief memorial: 

Ella M. Mabiey was born March 4, 1854, near 
Eayetteville, in North Carolina. After the war, while 
she was yet in early youth, her father's family removed 
to Indiana, and having gained knowledge somewhere, 
in 1871, when only seventeen years of age, she began to 
teach in the public schools of Indianapolis, where she 
continued to teach for six years, until her marriage. 
While a teacher in Indianapolis she was baptized by 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. . 47 

Dr. Henry Day, then pastor of the First Baptist church 
of that city, of which church she became a member, in 
the choir of which church she was one of the singers, 
as was also T. E. Lincoln, whom she afterward married. 
She was a member also of the Sabbath school of that 
church when J. K. Osgood, a large manufacturer of 
that city, was superintendent, the most noted Baptist 
superintendent of his day in the State. She was mar- 
ried by Dr. Day June 24, 1877, when twenty-three 
years of age, and went immediately to reside in Joliet, 
but not long after her residence was changed to Chi- 
cago, where she attended the Baptist church known as 
Dr. Lorimer's. In February, 1881, Mr. and Mrs. Lin- 
coln made their home on a farm a little south of Lake, 
the other side of Deep River. In January, 1882, was 
organized through her influence this Lake Home 
school, and through her energy and influence (an in- 
fluence that is not yet spent, that we all may feel with 
us here to-day, that will be felt by some of these chil- 
dren while they live), through summers and winters, 
through heat and cold, and storms and freshets, the 
school life has been maintained. 

It is safe to say that no superintendent in Lake 
county has exhibited more resolution or needed more 
energy in reaching his school than did she across a 
sometimes frozen, sometimes swollen and apparently 
bridgeless river. And in the night-time of April 18, 
1887, she attempted the passage of a very different river, 
the viewless river, in the deep waters of which we are 
sure she did not sink, for she had a stronger arm to lean 
upon than the arm of any man, and she passed over 
that river safely into the heavenly land . At the early 
age of thirty-three her life-work was done. It was a 
sad day when on April 21st the children of this Lake 
Home school gathered for the last time around her no 



48 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE.' 

longer living form, and amid their grief and tears 
placed above her remains their little gifts of flowers. 
And from among them for all life she passed away. 

She was a natural teacher. She had a natural talent 
not bestowed on all, of easily governing children. She 
loved to be with them. That she was successful as 
a public school teacher is evident from her position, 
for six years in Indianapolis. She loved music and was 
a good musician. This also is evident from her posi- 
tion in that city choir. And many of us have heard 
her voice at Crown Point, at Hammond, and at Lowell, 
a voice which on earth we will hear no more. She now 
rests from her labors and her works will follow her; 
and perhaps, although she spent those years of girl- 
hood's prime in the capital of our State, and those 
earlier years of womanhood in the city of Chicago, per- 
haps her choicest years of labor were these last five with 
the boys and girls of Lake. She was not fully satisfied 
with her work, yet she believed that it was for good. 
Let us imitate her example and emulate her virtues. 

Since the death of Mrs. Lincoln, her husband, T. 
E. Lincoln, Mrs. E. Corey, and Le Grand T. Meyer 
have been superintendents. Miss Tillie Grimshaw as 
organist has been very helpful in the school; and mem- 
bers of the Hazelgreen, Burt, Moore, and other fami- 
lies have aided in carrying it on. 

In 1887 the Convention met with this school, of 
which anniversary as quite an unusual one, a record 
will elsewhere be found. 

An earlier school than this of Lake Home was organ- 
ized at Lake Station, as early as 1872, when twenty- 
five members were reported, but of this school further 
records are not found . The first Lake Station school 
belongs only to the past. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 49 

X. LOWELL SCHOOLS. 

May 6, 1848, there was organized the second Bap- 
tist church in Lake county, called the Baptist church 
of West Creek, ten years after the organization of the 
Cedar Lake Baptist church. The place of meeting of 
this church was a school house in the neighborhood of 
what is now called Pine Grove. According to the rec- 
ollection of the writer that school house, then a central 
place for holding religious meetings, was on the State 
road in section 5, it may have been on section 4; town- 
ship, without any doubt, 32, and range 9 west. It 
would seem that a Sunday school was carried on by the 
members of this church, although the only trace of it 
that now appears is the following associational record 
for 1852: "This church, though small in number, is 
strong in missionary efforts; their contributions are 
large. * * * * Sabbath-school instruction continued 
with zeal; library of seventy volumes." This school 
will remain without being "named" or "counted" in 
the memorial records of this book; but it leads up to 
Lowell. In January, 1856, this West Creek church, 
having been for some time without a pastor, ceased to 
exist as an organization, a part of its members uniting 
with others in a new church known as the Baptist 
church at Lowell, organized January 20, 1856, in the 
new brick school house. Here, in 1857, so far as any 
records show, was organized the Lowell Union" Sun- 
day School. Whether that West Creek library of 
seventy volumes came to this school, or where it went, 
is not known. June 28, 1857, the Baptist church 
building at Lowell was dedicated, and in this building 
the Union school was held until it ceased to exist in 
1871. H. B. Austin, of Buncombe Street, was for years 
the Superintendent . D. Fry, still a resident of Lowell* 
was chorister, and the school was noted for its excellent 



50 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

singing, for the many child voices that joined always in 
song. In 1867 this school was the largest in the county. 
So long as it existed it was no little part of the county 
Convention force. For about fifteen years it carried on as a 
Sunday school a noble work. It was evangelical and 
union, and the different denominations represented 
worked together harmoniously. Many children in those 
fifteen years gained in that school much good. 

The Pleasant Grove school was traced down to 1870. 
In that year two new church buildings, Methodist and 
Christian, were erected at Lowell. A record exists that 
in 1871, the original or first Lowell Union school 
ceasing to exist, denominational schools commenced. 
There is some obscure Sunday-school history here; but 
some records which have just been found will harmonize, 
it is hoped, the somewhat conflicting individual recol- 
lections. From the report of 1872, in August, the fol- 
lowing is an extract: "As Secretary of the Convention I 
have endeavored to visit all our schools. I com- 
menced September 3d and closed August 25th. Have 
succeeded in visiting nearly all. The northern and cen- 
tral schools seem to have been more prosperous this 
year than those of the southwest. The Lowell Union, 
one of the largest and best in the county during former 
years, closed up last fall and has not since reopened." 
"Its place is in part supplied by the Lowell Methodist." 
In August of 1870, this record was made: "The 
Lowell school has felt the loss of its former superin- 
tendent, Mr. Austin, one of the zealous, earnest workers 
in this cause, now an inmate of the Insane Asylum at 
Indianapolis." The school continued, it appears, 
through the summer of 1871. In August, 1872, it was 
not reopened. 

In August, 1873, the report stated: "At Lowell the 
Union school, discontinued in 1871, was reopened at the 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 51 

Christian meeting-house, June 1; though not so large 
as in former years it seems to be prospering." In that 
year the Lowell Union and Lowell Methodist Episcopal 
were reported. From the diary or journal of school 
visitations, the following is the entry for 1873: "June 
8, visited the school at Lowell, the M. E. school; pres- 
ent about 70; school increasing; meets at 9:30 A. M." 
"3 P. M. Visited the Lowell Union S. S.; present 
57; school lately reopened." Again from that journal: 
"July 13, Morning, M. E. S. S. at Lowell. P. M., 
Union S. S. at Lowell." That there were, in 1873, 
these two schools at Lowell certainly can not be ques- 
tioned. 

In 1875 the secretary reported thus: "My own labors 
mostly in southeastern part of the county. Visited a 
few schools, ' ' attended the re-opening of Lowell Union; " 
and he reported that year " Lowell M. E., Lowell Union, 

and Lowell :" three schools, one without a 

full name . It seems to be the fair inference from this 
report that in 1875, at the Baptist Church in Lowell, a 
school called Lowell Union was opened or re-opened. 
That this inference is correct is made evident by the 
official reports from the individual schools for 1877. 
These are all on file and can be examined at any time. 
The three Lowell schools are reported thus: 

Union S. S. 
Supt., Eev. J. Bruce. 
Teachers and officers, 11. 
Whole number of scholars, 90. 
Number of church members, 25. 
Under twenty-one years of age, 79. 
Sec, M. E. Driscoll. 



52 the sunday schools of lake. 

Christian Sabbath School. 

Supt., Henry Dickinson. 

Teachers and officers, 10. 

Whole number of scholars, 41. 

Under twenty-one years of age, 21. 

Sec, Julia Lawrence. 

Lowell M. E. S. S. 

Supt., Alonzo Martin. 

Teachers and officers, 17. 

Whole number of scholars, 90. 

Number of conversions since last August, 16. 

Number of church members, 26. 

Under twenty-one years of age, 70. 

Sec, Clara Metcalf. 

These are official reports and can not be questioned, 
and it is evident that in each of the three churches there 
was a school. How long the three continued does not 
fully appear in the reports. (Some are not on file.) 
But the secretary's journal for 1882 contains the fol- 
lowing : "July 23. Visited Lowell M. E. school in 
the morning, and attended meeting at Christian church. 
2^ P. M., Band of Hope. 4, Lowell new Union school. 
Some life apparent here. Expect the Convention." 

To infer again, it seems that between 1877 and 1882 
two of the schools, the one in the Baptist and the one 
in the Christian church, had united, and that thus was 
formed the present Lowell Union ; or perhaps the 
Christian school was discontinued, and the Lowell 
Union of the Baptist was transferred to the Christian 
church. These seem now to be the historic facts : that 
the Lowell M. E. school was organized in 1871 ; that in 
1873 a school called Lowell Union was opened in the 
Cnristian church, the name afterwards being the Chris- 
tian school ; that in 1875 a school was opened again in 
the Baptist church and called Lowell Union ; and that 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 53 

before 1882 this school was removed to the Christian 
church or united with the Christian school, and the 
original name of each school was retained, the Lowell 
Union Sunday school. 

The Lowell Union, with its present enrollment 
membership of 124; and with such sturdy workers as 
the two Dickinsons, father and son (the son, Cyrus F. 
Dickinson, a leader of church music); as brethren, J. L. 
Worley and James Pinkerton; with such zealous assist- 
ants as are the whole membership of the Christian 
church, has been for years one of the strong,' reliable 
schools of the county. 

The earlier superintendents were, Eev. J. Bruce, 
C. F. Dickinson. 

Superintendent for several past years, James Pink- 
erton; for the last few years, Cyrus F. Dickinson. 

Many members of this school have become members 
of the Church. 

The Lowell Methodist Episcopal school reports a 
membership of 106. The superintendents for nineteen 
years have been: 

George W. Waters, Jones, Evi Fuller, Alonzo 

Martin, 1877; George W. Waters, John McCabe, Perry 
Jones, Mrs. P.' D. Clark, J. W. Viant 1883; C.E. 
Chaffee 1884; J. H. Spindler, Charles Ketchem. 
- The first school at Lowell (the town plat of that 
place as recorded bearing date May 13, 1853) was 
carried on by Mrs. Mahala Van Slyke, a sister of Mrs. 
S. J. Clark, in either 1852 or 1853; Mrs. Van Slyke 
was a day school or secular school teacher. She was 
one of the teachers in a large school taught at Crown 
Point in the old Methodist church building. She 
cared for the spiritual welfare of her pupils. In Lowell, 
having built a small house and opened a school there, 
she also commenced a Sunday school. This school did 
not continue long. 



54 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

XI. LAKE PRAIRIE.* 
BY KEV. H. WASON. 

The Lake Prairie Sabbath-school (in West Creek 
township) was organized in the log house of Mr. Abiel 
Gerrish May 17, 1857. The next Sabbath, May 24th, 
was the first school, with forty in attendance. Eev. H. 
Wason was first superintendent and held the office for 
several years. The majority of those connected with 
the congregation, both old and young, attended Sabbath- 
school, many coming a long distance. The venerable 
Dr. Peach, who lived to be ninety-eight years old, was 
a scholar as long as he was able to attend. For several 
years it was a large school. Samuel Ames, E. N. 
Morey, Rev. H. Sheeley, J. D. Baughman and T. A. 
Wason have been Superintendents. The present one, 
who has served for some years, is Lewis G. Little. The 

*Note.— I was desirous that the record of the Lake Prairie school, 
for this anniversary and this volume, should be written by one who for 
so many years was pastor in the southwestern part of the county, when 
the " parish " ( to use a New England word) was larger than it is now; 
by one who could say of his record, as Virgil's ^Eneas says of what he 
rehearses, a great part of which I was— magna pars fui — and that 
desire has been gratified. But the writer modestly refrained from say- 
ing some things which justly ought to be said in regard to this school. 
As already suggested, the field or area over which this school extended, 
for several years after 1857, was much larger than it has been in these 
later years. This naturally made the school a larger power for good; 
a larger community felt its influence. Its earlier workers were then^n 
the prime of life. Captain Little was there, Mrs. Gerrish was there, Mr. 
and Mrs. Ames were there, and Miss Sarah Little ; and it is safe to say that 
a more cultivated school choir was not then in the county, when Mrs. 
Wason, Mrs. Ames, and Miss Little were leading vocalists. Also the 
Fuller and Blayney families from over West Creek were there. And 
when the school met in the Convention gatherings we all knew there 
were trained New England voices to give us the sweet Sunday-school 
songs. There are younger singers, younger teachers, younger leaders 
there now, and they might say, the county Secretary and Editor is grow- 
ing old, if he here suggests palmy days were in the past. And so, recog- 
nizing what a power for good this school now is, with its compact pha- 
lanx of Christian young people, and its comparatively youthful leaders, 
I may close this long note with these words of the old gladiators: " We, 
who are about to die, salute you." 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OP LAKE. 55 

school has been kept up most of the time since its 
organization; the present number is about seventy. 

The Buncombe Union Sunday-school was organized 
in 1861. One of the first superintendents was a Mr. 
Morgan, who afterwards went West. Mr. Worley 
also had charge of it for some time, and others whose 
names I am unable to learn. It was usually well 
attended and did much good; has not been in session 
for some years. It was held in a school house on the 
township line between Cedar Creek and West Creek, 
near the marsh. 

XII. OTHER UNION SCHOOLS. 

The Pine Grove Union School was organized in 
1883 by Mrs. Minnie Ells, then a teacher in the public 
school in that district. After she left the school Hon. 
Joseph A. Little was Superintendent, also W. H. 
Bradley and Alexander Burhans. A sad calamity came 
in the spring of 1885. On Sunday afternoon, May 24, 
thunder clouds came over the southern part of the 
county; the superintendent was out in his dooryard 
observing these clouds. He was near a tree to which 
was attached a wire clothes-line. A bright flash of 
lightning came from the clouds, and from the tree and 
the wire the lightning passed to the human form. In 
that flash was death, and a lifeless form was all that 
remained here of one who had been an earnest and 
faithful Sunday-school worker. A few moments before 
he had been reading with his family in his home. Sud- 
denly he was called up to the great Home. 

For the last five years Lewis G-. Little, of Lake 
Prairie, has been, for most if not the entire time, the 
efficient Superintendent of this school. The Little fam- 
ily of Lake Prairie, some of whom became residents in 
this county in 1855, have aided largely in keeping up 



56 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OP LAKE. 

this school; as they have also done much for the Lake 
Prairie school; showing that zeal and that energy in a 
good cause which have characterized this large Ameri- 
can Little family for two and a half centuries : a family 
descended from George Little of Newberry, Massachu- 
setts, who came from London in 1640, whose descend- 
ants in these years have numbered more than six. 
thousand and five hundred Americans. The three 
brothers and three sisters of this Lake county genera- 
tion, members of these two schools near their prairie 
home, are, through their mother, who was Mary Gerrish 
of Lake Prairie, descendants, of the eleventh genera- 
tion, of John Rogers the martyr, who was burned at 
Smithfield February 14, 1555. Inheritors of the tra- 
ditions and associations that come through a Puritan 
and also a martyr line, all these would be expected to 
find a place and work in our Sunday schools. 

In the neighborhood of Pine Grove school are fami- 
lies also of active, intelligent young people whose zeal in 
promoting their own moral and religious welfare has 
made for themselves a good record. Their names will 
all be found on the enrollment page. 

A member of the infant class, whose name is there 
enrolled, passed away this year from her home and 
school life. ELLA E. BELSHA W , the younger daugh- 
ter of Edward and Eosina Brannon Belshaw, was born 
on Tuesday, May 26, 1885, and died of diphtheria, on 
Monday, March 3, 1890. Not quite five years of age, 
she was a winsome little child, was a joy and a light in 
her home, attended the Sunday school, learned some- 
thing of earth and life, of a Saviour and his love, en- 
joyed and suffered here, disposed of her playthings and 
earthly possessions, and went to sleep in death. Surely 
some time will her hour of waking come. Her sleep in 
death is not a sleep for ever. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 57 

EGYPT UNION. 

About 1865 a school in the neighborhood two and a 
half miles south of Lowell, known as Egypt, was con- 
ducted by James Wells . He was a son of that William 
Wells who lost his life in the severe snow storm of 
November 17, 1842. He became a Methodist minister 
and left this county many years ago. How many 
seasons this school continued has not been ascertained; 
but in 1878 the Egypt school was again in session, 
with John Burge as Superintendent and Nathan Worley 
as Assistant . There is again an uncertainty as to the 
number of summers in which the school was now kept 
up, but in 1883 Ellis jOross, then a young man and 
student, whose home was near Lowell, was found here 
carrying on the school. When visited that summer by 
the county Secretary it was a very pleasant, quite 
large, and prosperous school. The young Superintend- 
ent attended the normal school at Crown Point in 1884, 
went afterward to Valparaiso as a student, became a 
minister of the e ' Christian " denomination or church, 
was a successful evangelist in Porter and Starke coun- 
ties, and is now preaching in the State of New York. 
Again, in 1889, the school was re-organized, Mrs. Susie 
Allen, a daughter of Mr. Dickinson, Superintendent. 
Again the school was interesting and prosperous. When 
opened in the spring of this year, 1890, J. L. Worley 
was chosen Superintendent. Miss Ida A. Anderson and 
Miss Gracie B. Ebert have been its Secretaries. As in 
1883 so now it is a school, as to locality and member- 
ship, to interest a visitor. 

BUTLEE UNION. 

The Butler Union school, like many others, takes 
its name from the name of the school house where it is 
held, which is on the Joliet wagon-road nearly two 



58 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

miles west from Merrillville. The name came from the 
Butler family, a pioneer family in Lake County. There 
is good evidence that William Butler erected some cab- 
ins, where is now Crown Point, in the summer or early 
fall of 1834, but he made there no settlement. The 
Sunday school at what has been long known as the But- 
ler school house was organized, in the spring of 1880, 
by A. T. Davis, now residing in Dyer, who was its super- 
intendent for some years, all the family taking an act- 
ive part in the school. After the removal of this fam- 
ily to Dyer, Mrs. Nicholson was Superintendent for 
some four years, and now the office is filled by her hus- 
band, E. J. Nicholson, while she still remains as Assist- 
ant, "the power behind the throne." This school has 
been noted more for earnest steady study of the Scrip- 
ture, than for anything in the line of show or display. 
The Secretary, who is about eighteen years of age, has 
this year become a living Christian. The acting and 
active Librarian is as yet but a child, a child learning 
to work in the "vineyard." 



DYER UNION" SCHOOL. 

The present school at Dyer was commenced in 
1880 by Mrs. F. N. Biggs and Mr. George Da- 
vis. The inhabitants of Dyer are, for the most 
part, German Catholics, but a few Protestant fami- 
lies having their homes in that town desired for 
their children the advantages of a Sunday school. For 
some time this school was carried on by the two named 
above ; but Mrs. Biggs after a time removed to Crown 
Point, and Mr. A. T. Davis removed from the Butler 
school neighborhood to Dyer. He then became Super- 
intendent at Dyer, and continued in that position about 
four years. Through the year, or for most of the year 
1889, Dr. S. Turner was Superintendent. The school 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 59 

is this year carried on by Mrs. Flanagan, the teachers 
being Mrs. Johns, Mrs. Brewer, Mrs. Templeton, and 
Mrs. Smith . While not large, this is a very interesting 
and useful school, and the reports from year to year 
show that, for its number of members, it is the 
best school in the county for its mission contri- 
butions in aid of home work. It is the only school 
now in the county contributing regularly for that excel- 
lent institution, the Foreign Sunday-School Association, 
of Brooklyn, N. Y. It also contributes regularly for 
the Orphans' Home, in Chicago. It is a pleasure to 
spend an hour in this school. 

Some facts have been gleaned in regard to a much 
earlier school in or near what is now the town of Dyer. 
Mrs. Babcock is named, and also the Wolcott, Park, and 
Bower families are mentioned as interested in a Sunday 
school before the Hart family came from Philadelphia 
to Dyer. 

CLAEKE UNION SCHOOL. 

A peculiar school was held at Clarke Station for two 
or three winters. It was not in session in the summer. 
It was carried on by a benevolent lady whose husband 
had business interests in Lake county in the winter 
sessions. Unfortunately her name can not now be 
obtained. The school was reported in 1883 with twelve 
members. The wife of the station agent at Clarke for 
that year, Mrs. Cole, aided in the school. That family 
soon moved away, the business interest was closed, and 
no more sessions of the Clarke school were held. 



THE OUSLEY SCHOOL. 

In a school house north of the Little Calumet, south- 
east from Hessville, some members of what was called 
the "Band," from Ross, organized a Sunday school and 



60 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

carried it on for about eighteen months. In 1882 a 
school was again organized here. 

In 1887 and 1888 the school was carried on by Miss 
Grace Ousley, a noble-hearted young Christian, a 
teacher for a few years in our public schools. Miss 
Ousley has spent this summer in the British Isles, 
recruiting health, enjoying the beauties of nature and 
art in that old home of Anglo-Saxon civilization. 

In the fall she returned, and commenced in Chicago 
the study of pharmacy. The place of one so true and 
unselfish and devoted is not easily filled again in our 
county of Lake. 



The Handley School a few miles east and north 
from Crown Point, was organized when the "Band" 
movement was meeting with such success in Lake 
county. Preaching was regular at that school house in 
1880, and probably then the school was organized. It 
continued some two or three seasons and was quite a 
flourishing school. S. H. Gehr was Superintendent. 
It is now among the discontinued schools, along with 
Deer Creek and Vincent, its near neighbors. 



The Jokes School, called for a time North Pleasant 
Grove school to distinguish it from the early Pleasant 
Grove, was organized about 1859. At first it was 
Protestant Methodist, but afterwards became, with the 
agreement of all who were connected with it, Methodist 
Episcopal. The school was prosperous and useful for 
many years, numbering from forty to sixty members. 
It was closed about 1881. Perry Jones, now of Lowell, 
Treasurer of the County Convention, was its only super- 
intendent. 

This school was re-opened, or rather a new one 
organized, at the same school house in 1888, James 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 61 

Westbay, Superintendent; Secretary, Miss Daum. But 
it was not largely prosperous, and has not this year been 
in session. 

XIII. THE WEST CREEK WEST SIDE SCHOOLS. 

Let us imagine another voice to come in here, 
another reader now, who takes us back again to the ear- 
lier times, and to a little cluster or rather line of schools 
no longer in existence. 

A part of Lake county on the Illinois line, averaging 
a mile in width, lies on the west side of West Creek. 
Five schools, or, perhaps more accurately, two schools, 
becoming afterwards three, in the history of our past, 
belong to this locality. The first of these was organ- 
ized in the home of Mrs. Sarah Farwell, July 14, 1846, 
by members of the Ball family of Cedar Lake, Elder 
Benjamin Sawin, of La Porte, being present. This 
statement is taken from a diary record, and so is free 
from all uncertainty. Members of the Ball, Church, 
and Cutler families united with the Farwell family in 
carrying on the school, which proved to be a very pleas- 
ant one, and in which were some more than ordinarily 
promising children. Where those are now, no one in 
Lake county knows. Seed was sown, and that Great 
Father who was once called by our Saviour the ' ' Hus- 
bandman," surely watched over and controlled the re- 
sults. There are living now of those who were young 
and active then as members of the Cedar Lake church 
and school helpers in this first church mission school 
of the county: Mrs. E. H. Woodard, of Grove Hill, 
Alabama, who for now about forty years has been a 
teacher in that Southland; Eli Church, of Oregon; and 
Mrs. Sophia Cutler-Brownlee, of Illinois, the wife, and 
now, the widow of a Presbyterian clergyman. Mrs. 
Farwell died in 1848, and this school, probably, was 



62 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

closed for a time, but was reopened in 1849 at Bruns- 
wick, in a log house near the residence of Mr. Joseph 
Schmall. 

Judge Ball, with the younger members of his family, 
kept up this school for some time, aided by Mrs. Carlos 
Farwell, who took charge of the school in his 
absence, members of the Burns, Bobbins, Farwell, and 
other Brunswick families, attending. A library was 
kept here which was well read, and especially in later 
days by young Stillman A. Bobbins, who, when a sol- 
dier in the 12th Indiana Cavalry, died at Huntsville, 
Alabama, July 18, 1864. (See " The Lake of the Eed 
Cedars," page 243.) 

In 1849 Mr. H. S. Fuller, with quite a family of 
sons and daughters, became a resident on one of this 
row of sections, in range 10, bordering on the Illinois 
line. West of him was then the almost boundless 
prairie, without a railroad, extending to the Mississippi 
Eiver. East of him was the almost impassable stream 
called West Creek, with its broad, marshy valley and its 
quicksands. He was a staunch Presbyterian, and, no 
church or school privileges being near, in the spring of 
1850 he opened a Sunday school in his own house. In 
the summer of 1851 this family school was transferred 
to the Graves school house, then newly erected. H. S. 
Fuller was still Superintendent. For some ten years, 
each summer, a school was continued here, J. Milton 
Blayney and Mrs. Blayney being some of the time super- 
intendents. Forty, and sometimes more than this 
number, were in attendance, including the Marvin, 
Gordinier, Graves, Blayney, Bliss, Fuller, Pattee, and 
DeGroff families. 

Then the school house was burned. In its stead two 
others were built; one north of Mr. Marvin's, the. other 
south of Mr. Blayney's, on the east and west road near 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 63 

the State line. In each of these new houses a Sunday 
school was organized. The one school which closed 
with the burnt school house was divided and became 
two. At the northern school Elliott Graves, Mrs. Mar- 
vin, Mrs. Blayney, were the superintendents. At 
this school house Rev. H. Wason preached every other 
Sunday afternoon, at the close of the school session. 
This school continued till about 1871. At the other 
school house, which was near his home, H. S. Fuller 
was the one superintendent. Different ministers 
preached here and good results followed. 

One of these pastors had an experience in reaching 
his afternoon appointment. He had preached at 
Lowell in the morning and was to ride over, crossing 
the Torrey bridge, with the Graves family. But, by 
some disappointment, the conveyance was not present. 
Riding westward, therefore, as far as he had opportu- 
nity, he left the buggy and took a direct course through 
the West Creek woods to a spot where he hoped to find 
a boat. The boat could -not be found. It was almost 
time for the services to commence. But the creek, 
with its then marshy valley of tall grass and rushes, 
with its quicksands here and there — and to step into 
one of these concealed spots was dangerous — with its 
water snakes and other perils, was between him and the 
school-house. He hesitated not long, but crossed over 
in a way that only those having some knowledge of 
frontier life would understand and appreciate. It 
would be safe to say that no minister ever crossed that 
then dangerous valley in that way before or since. 

(That same missionary pastor has, in the winter 
time, in the same manner, passed a barrier in the Kan- 
kakee valley region, when the ice would in places sup- 
port his weight, and in places would give him the full 
benefit of the cold water.) 



64 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

This school closed about 1873, the Fuller family 
removing to a more western home. 

About twenty-seven years then, from 1846 to 1873, 
will measure the life of the west side West Creek 
schools, in which Baptists and Presbyterians worked 
ever harmoniously together. 

It may be noticed by the observant reader that the 
early Baptists, and to quite an extent the Presbyterians, 
established only Union schools. 

From 1850 to 1873, almost continuously, H. S. 
Fuller was a superintendent. Constantly for twenty- 
three years he was active in the Sunday-school cause 
and work; and to him along with members of the 
Graves and Blayney and Gordinier families, the credit 
largely belongs of three and twenty years of diligent 
Sabbath instruction. .Of the members of the Fuller 
family, Mrs. Marvin only remains among us. 

Some of those once so active in those schools are yet 
among the living, and many are among the dead. 
Surely many names of those in the West Creek schools 
will be found written in the "Life Book." 



WEST CREEK. 
Near the southwest limit of the upland of the 
county, near the stream called West Creek, but on the 
east side, near the ie shore line" of the Kankakee 
Marsh, we found an early Methodist neighborhood, 
preaching point and Sunday school. How long Adam 
Hamilton, called from his age Father Hamilton, con- 
tinued to conduct this school is not now known. Ama- 
ziah Gear is named as one who succeeded him, probably 
also Aaron Fisher, perhaps Henry Parsons, and very 
surely Levi Tarr. How the school prospered for several 
years is not known. It is not named among the thirty- 
one schools reported for 1872. The neighborhood 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 65 

changed. In later years Superintendents have been 
Hugh Moore, C. T. Bailey, and Charles Belshaw. It 
has always had a church building in which to meet. It 
contains some good workers, some interesting children. 



XIV. SOME SCHOOLS OF THE PAST. 

What was known as the Underwood school was 
held at the school house of that name from about 1871 
to 1877. John Underwood, now a resident of Hobart, 
author of "El Muza," was Superintendent. Mrs. P. 
Banks, Mrs. D. Underwood, and Mrs. Joy were the 
main supporters of the school. In 1872 the number of 
scholars in this school was sixty. 

Other schools, of which little can now be learned, 
are: The Adam's, reporting forty members in 1872; 
Livingston's, also numbering forty; Hessville, num- 
bering thirty; Lake Station of 1872, numbering 
twenty-five; Ensign's, numbering twenty-five; Hick- 
ory Top, afterward Ainsworth, numbering forty; Yin- 
cent's, then numbering sixty; Prairie View, also 
numbering sixty; Pleasant Prairie, numbering fifty. 
These numbers are all for 1872. I am sorry that so 
little can now be placed on record of schools that were 
flourishing only eighteen years ago. 

Of the schools once held at the Clark and Buck- 
ley school houses no report as to numbers has for any 
year been found. 

The Prairie View school, named above, was for 
several years quite prosperous. The date of organiza- 
tion has not been learned. It was in existence before 
1859. About that time Dr. Vandewalker, of Hammond, 
thirty years younger than he is now, was one of the 
superintendents. Mrs. R. Fancher, the family resid- 
ing in the neighborhood for five years, was Superin- 
tendent and teacher here. There were others whose 



66 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OP LAKE. 

names are not at hand for this record. The school 
house was one of the many in our county, where, in 
earlier days, regular preaching appointments were kept 
up. The later School Grove school was new. Hor- 
ace Bliss, a youth in one of the West Creek schools, a 
young merchant in Crown Point sixteen or eighteen 
years ago, aided in religious work at School Grove. He 
was a noble, Christian young man, and set an example 
worthy of imitation for the young men of to-day. 
Here the Williams, Chapman, and Farmer families of 
School Grove also helped to maintain Sunday-school 
life; but all are gone from that neighborhood now. As 
families change Sunday schools start into existence or 
go down. Families make the neighborhood life. 

The Pleasant Prairie school, held at what is now the 
Winfleld school house, was a prosperous summer school. 
When this was first organized is uncertain. Perhaps 
about 1870. A school had been held at Eagle Creek 
Prairie, now Palmer. Mr. Jacob Wise, now a resident 
of Crown Point, Superintendent. This school was com: 
menced about 1863 or 1864. The attendance was quite 
large. The school was kept up for a few summers, quite a 
library having been obtained, and attention being given 
to singing. After this closed about the same community 
opened a school at the then new school house, and Mr. 
W x ise was Superintendent. The young people here gave 
large attention to singing, their Superintendent being 
a leader and teacher of vocal music. Probably the sec- 
ond Superintendent was Joseph Patten. The last 
school session here was about 1885, Mr. Isaac Handley 
Superintendent. The name of Elliott Bibler belongs 
somewhere in connection with this school; the Baldwin, 
Smith, Crisman, Bibler, and Blakeman families, the two 
Handley and the two Patten families, and some others, 
aiding in making it interesting and prosperous. In 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 67 

1885 changes commenced in the neighborhoods and it 
ceased to be a center for preaching and for school. For 
a part of one term the public school had but two pupils. 
A few particulars have been gathered in regard to the 
Vincent school. As early as 1856 the school house was 
one of those used on Sundays and evenings for relig- 
ious meetings. There was regular Sabbath preaching 
here for several years. Brother Hines, a Methodist 
minister, not Episcopal nor Protestant nor Wesleyan, 
simply " Methodist/' resided for a time in the neigh- 
borhood. His wife was an excellent singer, and it was 
pleasant to hear them sing in Sunday school or church 
that beautiful song, " The Only Way to Heaven is the 
Royal Way of the Cross." The date of school organi- 
zation is here also uncertain. Perhaps in 1865. 

An early Superintendent, the only one whose name 
has been obtained, was Frank Larabee. He was an 
earnest, living Methodist, and for a time no little reli- 
gious life was manifested in this Vincent neighborhood. 
The Holton families and others were here; Captain 
Woodbury lived here; and the social life was pervaded 
by the religious element. A live Sunday school would 
naturally follow, if it did not precede; and sixty mem- 
bers are reported for 1872. 

The second school house here was known as the 
" Red " school house, and a third one has been built. 
The last Sunday school here was carried on by Superin- 
tendent G. Handley and others in the summer of 1886. 

Some have been found — Mrs. Underwood, Miss Lath- 
rop, Mrs. Smith, and Mrs. Blachley — who have recol- 
lections or traditions of the Hickory Top school before 
1860. It is probable that Mr. Booth, then living in the 
neighborhood, and Mr. Brown were superintendents or 
active in the school. The school house was a center for 
religious meetings and other social gatherings. About 



68 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

1863, the Harper family came, and soon Mrs. Ruth 
Harper became and continued for many years active in 
this school as teacher or superintendent. She died 
March 9, 1884, haying been a wife for forty years, and 
having been an earnest, useful Christian woman for 
about twenty years at Hickory Top in our county. 

For the last few years Rodney A. Castle has been 
superintendent. The name was changed to Ainsworth, 
none were left to sing, he removed to Hobart, and the 
school was closed. 

In 1847 Miss Esther Castle opened a school in a 
private house, not then occupied, on the farm of Mr. 
Lathrop, Mrs. Underwood's father, where, for those 
days, a large number attended, as many sometimes as 
forty. Miss Castle was a niece of R. A. Castle, evi- 
dently an active woman, and kept up this school for 
some years. Out of this school probably grew, when a 
school house was built, perhaps much earlier than 1860, 
the Hickory Top, the Ainsworth school. 

Another quite early school, of which one trace has 
been found, was also in a private house, west of Mer- 
rill ville. The one who remembers it is not quite sure 
whether it was in the Butler house or in another house 
near by. Mr. Julius Demmon was either Superintend- 
ent or a principal teacher in this school. The year has 
not been determined, but it must have been before 1850. 
The Hickory Point school was commenced in 1847. 
Superintendents: W. A. Nichols, 1847-1849; W. Gibbs, 
1849-1854. Average attendance 40. Interested in the 
school were the Beebe and G-regg families among others. 
In the early church here were at one time some seventy- 
five members. The religious interests closed here about 
1887. The school closed much earlier. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OP LAKE. 69 

XV. "CROWN POINT METHODIST EPISCOPAL SCHOOL. 

In 1843 Rev. Major Allman, who has been already 
mentioned, came to Crown Point and became a resi- 
dent among us, not as a pastor but as a local preacher, 
and a helper and worker in Christian activities, and 
especially in building up the Methodist church. He 
concluded it was well to organize a denominational 
school, and soon therefore left the Crown Point Union 
school, and, according to the best authority we now 
have, in this same year of 1843, encouraged and assisted 
by Silas Hathaway, he organized the Methodist Episco- 
pal Sunday school of Crown Point. It is probable that 
he was the first superintendent. He soon became 
county recorder, and held that office from 1845 to 1856, 
preaching occasionally and doing school and church 
work as occasions required. In 1847 the school began 
to be held in the then new Methodist church building, 
and there continued until the present building was 
erected in 1860. In this year of 1847, when the two 
schools of Crown Point were each in church buildings, 
there were in the county five church buildings, — the 
county was now ten years of age — seven postoffices, 
about fifty frame houses, two brick dwelling houses, and 
four or five stores. There were five local preachers, one 
circuit preacher, one Presbyterian pastor. There were 
two lawyers, six or seven physicians, fifteen justices of 
the peace. There were two saloons. There was one 
village. Crown Point contained about thirty families. 

The Sunday school, of course, was not very large. 
The school increased in number with the growth of the 
town, for some years, and then for a time declined, and 
in 1857 its members were quite discouraged, but one 
woman began to give her energies more fully to the 
work; a new pastor, Rev. J. W. Green, came into the 
field, church and school revived, and the school has con- 



70 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

tinued to grow as the population of the town has in- 
creased. Seasons of declension and seasons of revival 
have had their day, but in the main the school has held 
steadily on. 

The superintendents, so far as can be ascertained, 
have been the following: Samuel Cade, elected in 1849; 
Sylvester Green, the years not certainly known; Martin 
Wood; the different pastors for a time succeeding, till 
1857; Mrs. S. G. Wood, if not by election, became for 
a time largely the life of the school. There followed as 

elected superintendents, Upthegrove, about 1858; 

George Krinbill, 1859, in office eight years; Andrew 
Krimbill; J. Hauk; W. T. Horine; again for some time 
J. Hauk; Mrs. S. G. Wood, 1886; S. Witherell, 1887, 
1888; Dr. Gibbs, 1889, 1890. 

The names of the teachers can not all be given, but 
the following have been obtained for this record. First 
of all is the name of Mrs. S. G. Wood, a daughter of 
Rev. George W. Taylor, of Pleasant Grove, married to 
Martin Wood in August of 1849, and entering upon 
home, church, and other duties in Crown Point in 1855. 

Commencing her work as a Sunday-school teacher 
before her marriage, as many others do and have done, 
she has continued it till the present time, a teacher for 
forty-three years. As might well be supposed she has 
been active also in other kindred work. Other teachers 
are: Mrs. R. Fancher, a superintendent and teacher 
from 1860 for about twelve years, and for the last 
eighteen years kept out of the school by bodily afflic- 
tions; J. Hauk, Mrs. Horine, Mr. and Mrs. Upthegrove, 
Mrs. Griggs, Miss Cordelia Wood, now Mrs. Judge 
Herrick, of Kansas; Miss Addie Meeker, now Mrs. J. 
Rockwell, for three years teacher of the infant class; 
Miss Mattie Dresser, now Mrs. Dr. Gibbs, teacher for 
five or six years; Mrs. Witherell, Miss Ann M. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 71 

Millikan, George Krinbill, Jr. ; Miss Julia Krinbill, Miss 
Lily Krinbill, T. A. Muzzall, Arthur Griggs, Benton 
Wood, and Miss Ada Griggs. There have been other 
teachers for a longer or shorter time in this school. 

For several years George Krinbill, Jr. , now teacher of 
vocal music in the Pablic school of Eed Wing. Minne- 
sota, was chorister in this school. 

T. A. Muzzall has done not a little for several years 
in building up the material interests of the school. He 
has been Secretary, Treasurer, a leading singer, as well 
as teacher, and has put his prompt, active, business 
habits into the life of the school . 

Professor 0. J. Andrews, Principal for some years 
of the Crown Point Public school, was an active mem- 
ber of this Sunday school. 

In numbers this school has been for many years one 
of the large schools of the county. 

In these forty-seven years of school life additions 
from time to time have been made to the church mem- 
bership from the classes in the school. 



XVI. BAPTIST SCHOOLS IN CROWN POINT. 

The first school in the Baptist church house at 
Crown Point was held by T. H. Ball in 1857. 

Rev. J. Benney became pastor in 1857, but did 
not continue the school. Rev. A. E. Simons became 
pastor in 1860 and conducted a Baptist school till April 
19, 1863. In the fall of 1863 the school was reopened 
by T. H. Ball and continued till 1870. The teachers 
were: Mrs. Ball, Miss Mary Bacon, Mrs. L. G. Bedell, 
now Dr. Bedell, of Chicago, and Mrs. Sarah Robinson. 
In 1865 three members of the school, and in 1867 ten, 
became church members. 

After 1870 a school was again opened in the church 
building by Mr. and Mrs. Abrams and Mrs. Whipple. 



72 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OE LAKE. 

In 1877 Rev. R. P. Stephenson was pastor, and he with 
others carried on the school. 

In 1880 and afterwards Rev. E. H. Brooks was pas- 
tor, and Mr. and Mrs. Osborne and Mrs. E. Church 
were for several years active in this school. The school 
was transferred from East Street to Main Street, after 
the erection of the brick Baptist church on Main Street 
in 1881, and was kept np here until after the resigna- 
tion of Rev. L. A. Clevenger in the fall of 1884. It 
has been revived once or twice since by Mrs. Church 
and others, but has not been in session for some con- 
siderable time. 

In 1875 was organized in the North Street Baptist 
church building the North Street Sunday school, which 
school continued till 1888. T. H. Ball was Superin- 
tendent. Teachers at different times were Mrs. E. 
Hodson, Mrs. Hartupee, Mrs. Mary Thompson, Miss 
Georgie E. Ball, and constantly Mrs. M. C. C. Ball. 
In this school was a mission circle which sent the first 
funds from this county to the Foreign Sunday-School 
Association at Brooklyn, New York. Funds were sent 
to a school at Copenhagen in Denmark and "various 
interesting missionary letters were received. A record 
of two of the members of Mrs. Ball's Infant class, who 
died in 1877, one seven and one six years of age, may 
be found in " Lake of the Red Cedars," pages 285-296. 
This North Street school was prosperous for several 
years and gave its peculiar training to many children, 
but finding its mission accomplished it was closed in 
the spring of 1888. 

There has been for the last few years, therefore, no 
Baptist school in Crown Point. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 73 

XVII. OTHER CROWN POINT SCHOOLS. 

The German Methodist school was organized soon 
after the erection of their building, which was in 1874. 
It is a true church school, composed of the yo anger 
members of the church, the school sessions being held 
before the morning service. As most of the members 
of this church live in the country, they come early as 
families together, and attend the school and then the 
church services. The school is well conducted. J. 
Knoedler is Superintendent. The school contributes 
well for missions. As the members so largely live in 
the country, they hold their Christmas tree exercises 
each year in the daytime with darkened windows. 
These exercises are very interesting. As might be 
expected, this is an evergreen school, and the members 
are very regular in their attendance. 

In the same year, 1874, the German Evangelicals 
erected a church building and also organized a school. 
Theirs is also a church school, and some of their mem- 
bers come from the country. C. Weis has been one of 
the officers of the school. The exercises of both these 
schools are conducted in the German language. 



THE FREE METHODIST SCHOOL. 

In 1876, in the summer, and at Ross, a new religious 
movement commenced in this county. An appropriate 
name is the " Band work/'' Meetings were held daily 
at Crown Point during most of the winter of 1876 and 
1877. As one result of these meetings a church was 
constituted in 1877, in the North street church building, 
called the Band church. In October, 1880, the name 
chosen was the "Union Mission Church" at Crown 
Point. 

Xot long after, in 1881 or 1882, the church became 
Free Methodist. A house for worship was erected and 



74 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

a Sunday school organized. The date of organization 
can not be earlier than 1881. The Superintendents 
have been, about one year each holding office, Rev. T 
Westerdale, Rev. C. S. Spalding. Miss Phoebe Colby, 
Mrs. F. E. Fessenden, Rev. W. Ferries, Mrs. M. Ross, 
Mrs. Ida Day, wife of the pastor, and Mrs. M. Ross. 
The school has not been large, but quite prosperous. 
T. Cleveland, Esq., an earnest Christian man, has usu- 
ally attended this school. 

The " Cheshire Hall" school is peculiar among the 
schools of the town and county. It has three teach- 
ers, no officers, no records. It is a Bible school, con- 
ducted by a congregation of Believers, or Plymouth 
Brethren. It is supposed to number about twenty. 



Beautiful banners have often been brought by the 
schools to the annual gatherings. Among the banners 
this year was a new one; a beautiful, small, blue ban- 
ner, fringed with red, on which was this name, The 
School in the Woods, and this quotation from the 
Scriptures, " And they shall dwell safely in the wilder- 
ness, and sleep in the woods." Ez. 34: 25. This school 
is held in a school house, the White school house, some- 
times in the shade of the trees without, about half way 
from Crown Point to Cedar Lake, in the midst of that 
once well-wooded region, where sometimes when pass- 
ing through, in the still and lone night hours, on his 
well-trained steed, the present Superintendent of this 
school would ride almost into a herd of deer; and these, 
as they bounded swiftly away into the darkness, startled 
themselves, would also for a moment startle the horse 
and his rider. Long has it been since a deer was seen 
in all those six miles of woods. But now there gather, 
from their homes in the clearings, from American, 
German, Bohemian families, dear and precious little 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. ?0 

children, to learn each day "something new about 
Jesus." 

AN EXTRACT. — JANUARY, 1890. 

" One delightful Christmas gathering was held in 
Lake county, 'in the woods/ between Crown Point and 
Cedar Lake, in the White school house. This school 
was lately organized by the missionary of the American 
Sunday School Union. It is the youngest school in the 
county. There were present in the school house, on 
Christmas night, eighty persons — fathers and mothers 
and children; some of the children had not before seen 
a Christmas-tree. The tree, procured by the boys, was 
a very fine red cedar. Little children were placed under 
the tree and the whole was illuminated with red chemi- 
cal light. The tree was beautifully decorated. The 
children received oranges and candy and pictures and 
little books. Miss May Williams, teacher in the public 
school in that district, gave valuable aid. The exercises 
seemed to be enjoyed by all." 



XVIII. CEDAR LAKE GERMAN METHODIST SCHOOL. 

The pioneer German Methodist west of Cedar Lake 
was John Beckley, Sr. He made his home in the 
edge of that long strip of West Creek woodland, in 
which then the deer were so abundant, about 1845. He 
had a quite large family. About 1848 he opened a 
Sunday school in his own house. Other families came 
in. In 1851 George Krinbill, Sr., made his home in 
that neighborhood. He had a store. As the neighbors 
were together here, Mr. Beckley proposed that they 
make a "bee," and erect a little log school house. 
This was done, and in about 1852 the school was held in 
this school house. Other families came. A church was 
constituted, then a church building was erected, and in 



76 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

1855, perhaps earlier, the school was removed to the 
church, where for thirty-five years it has been kept up. 
The second Superintendent was George Krinbill, Sr., 
about 1850. Superintendent Stitzel was the third, in, 
perhaps, 1856. Superintendents Eudolph and Locker 
followed. And then at times the pastors of the church 
would take charge of the school. George Krinbill, 
then young, now known as Senior, before his removal to 
Crown point in 1858, taught singing to the members of 
the school; and, as they could not well understand the 
common notes, he taught them by figures. Vocal music 
seems to belong to his family line. 

The names of the superintendents of this Cedar 
Lake German school, for the last few years have not 
been obtained. The school was quite large for several 
years; the members attended the convention anniver- 
sary at Crown Point in 1880, singing two pieces, and 
their pastor, Rev. Mr. Doering, giving an address; and 
they have contributed for the county and mission work. 
So many families have removed of late years that in 
numbers the school has declined. It has been doing 
good work and valuable in the community and county 
for some forty-two years. Such schools are needed, as 
forts, as bulwarks, to help in holding for the Lord of 
earth's great battlefield our county and State. Often 
have we sung in various gatherings that stirring battle 
song, " Hold the Fort." 



XIX. OAK GROVE. 

There are now living in a home by themselves, in 
the eastern limit of Oak Grove, three brothers by the 
name of Allbright. They are of that family connection 
that gave the name Allbright to what is now called the 
German Evangelical church. Their date of settlement 
in the grove is 1863. The other members of this family 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 77 

are gone. From these brothers it has been learned that 
a school was organized here by Lewis G-uise, and after- 
wards re-opened and carried on by Mrs. Shafer and 
their mother, Mrs. Allbright, perhaps in 1876. In 
March, 1880 Mrs. Allbright died. 

Mrs. Shafer left the county and state. The Oak 
Grove neighborhood was found without any school, and 
with another group of children then living, by a mis- 
sionary of the American Sunday School Union, who 
organized as a new school, not building on any one's foun- 
dation, the present Oak Grove Sunday school, April 1, 
1888. Mrs. M.K. Hill was elected Superintendent. This 
family had removed to the grove from the east side of 
Cedar Lake. Mrs. Hill died May 28, 1 889, then thirty- 
five years of age. For a time Miss Jennie Sanders was 
the superintendent, but the difficulties of the situation 
were too great for a girl so young to overcome and the 
school for several months was closed. In July, 1890, 
it was re-opened, and the enrollment page will show the 
officers and the membership. 

In this once truly island grove, where is situated a 
Chicago club-house, "Cumberland Lodge," there ought 
to be a permanent school. 



XX. SHELBY UNION. 
From "Our Banner." Extracts. 

" The Shelby Union Sunday school, the first school 
near the Kankakee river in Lake county, the second 
school south of the marsh "shore" line, was organized 
in its present form July 24, 1887. There were present 
and taking part in the organization, besides those resid- 
ing at Shelby, two young men, Mr. Adolph Pfender, of 
New York city, and Mr. Melvin A. Brannon, a student 
from Wabash College, Crawfordsville, Indiana. Such 
young men as these, having their Bibles with them 



78 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

where they go, ready to aid in Sunday-school work at 
any place, are blessings in any community where they 
may reside even for a day. One of these. Mr. A. 
Pfender, has for two seasons spent considerable time at 
Shelby, aiding materially this school and one organized 
in the spring of 1888 at Eiver Bidge." 

" Children's Day was duly observed at Shelby on 
Sunday afternoon, June 10th. Some of the girls had 
provided flowers, some of the beautiful wild flowers of 
that locality, with which to decorate the room, and the 
beautiful concert exercise, entitled (( Scattering the 
Seed/' prepared and published by the American Sunday 
School Union, was rehearsed by the school. The collec- 
tion taken was for the mission work of the American 
Sunday School Union, ' the society that takes care of 
the children.' Of course, thousands of schools observed 
the same day; hundreds of thousands of children 
brought their offerings. ISTone could appropriate them 
for the use of a grander society or for a nobler 
work." 1888. 

CHKISTMAS EVE AT SHELBY, 1888. 

"Although the evening was dark and rainy, as it was 
generally in northwestern Indiana, some pleasant hours 
of the afternoon had been spent by the teachers and 
some of the young people of the school in preparing a 
tree and loading it for the children, and in the evening 
very pleasant exercises were held. Of course there 
was singing, and other appropriate services were con- 
ducted by the Superintendent; a beautiful poem and an 
instructive story were read; some of the children had 
recitations; and some solos were neatly rendered by a 
temporary resident of Shelby, a man from Scotland, 
who in his native land had heard " the sweetest of all 
Scotia's holy lays." Songs from the old countries and 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 79 

of the olden times are pleasant amid the freshness of 
our new life. Those representing at least four nation- 
alities could rejoice for the Christmas time and for the 
gift long ago of the Bethlehem Babe. The young men 
and the young ladies of this Shelby school deserve 
praise for their hearty efforts in aiding to sustain pub- 
lic worship, and the probability is that they will soon 
take steps towards securing a permanent place for a 
Sunday-school home." 



APRIL, 1889. 

"Present officers: Superintendent, T. H. Ball; 
Secretary, Miss IdaGorde; Treasurer, Miss Jennie Lar- 
son; Librarian, MissH. Lange. Trustees elected March 
18, 1889, R. Fuller, G. Peterson, J. Lange, J. W. Cox, 
and B. Erickson. 

A lot has been promised to the school by the Presi- 
dent of the Lake Agricultural Company, Mr. W. R. 
Shelby, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and it is expected 
that the Committee to solicit funds for the erection of 
a building will soon be ready for their work." 



XXI. ROBINSON PRAIRIE UNION SCHOOL. 

Of all our schools, this one alone, situated near the 
south part of the large prairie area of the county, has 
perpetuated the name at first given to this wide prairie, 
the name of the founder of Crown Point, Solon Robin- 
son; a name that may fade out entirely from the prairie 
to which it was given, but which will always remain in 
the true annals of Lake county. 

This school w r as organized as early as 1870, perhaps 
earlier, by Mr. John Bates. The members of this 
family had more than ordinary musical talent. The 
son, Kossuth Bates, played on an instrument which he 
took to the school house; the daughter, Miss Alice, was 



80 THE STODAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

a very good child vocalist; and, aided by Miss Jennie 
Fuller, now Mrs. Dickinson, then a young girl; by Miss 
Mary Wood, now Mrs. Gregg; Miss Ida Foote, now 
Mrs. Tillotson; Miss Annie Wimple, and Mary Tilton, 
and others, the singing in this school was excellent. 
For a few years the school was prosperous, Mr. Warner 
and his family taking a large interest in it, and all in 
the neighborhood giving it good support. 

T. H. Ball, who has, at different times, been super- 
intendent of eight schools in this county, conducted this 
school one season. Some of the young members then 
were, besides those already named, Ida Crawford, Ella 
McCann (not now living), Etta Warner, Ella Warner, 
Rhoda Antrim, Lydia Antrim, Adelaide Fuller, Emily 
Fuller, and others who were still younger children. F. 
A. Ewer was active in helping to keep up this school. 
Here, as in many other neighborhoods, family changes 
came. There is here now only a small Lutheran 
school. 

Of one of the little German Lutheran children the 
following extract is a memorial. The year is 1889: 

THE UNSEEN MESSENGERS. 
Dora Seegers, a winsome little girl, eight years of 
age, was on Thursday, July 18, suddenly called away 
from earth, called up to the other world. Her father's 
home is about nine miles southeastward from Crown 
Point, in Lake county, Indiana. Her father and his 
men were at work in the hay field, to them she was car- 
rying water from the house. Northward it was cloudy 
and rather dark. At Crown Point it was raining. But 
it was not cloudy to any extent over that locality. A 
small cloud was observed over the head of the young 
child as she drew near to the men in the field, and, as 
they were very thirsty, her father called to her that she 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 81 

might hasten a little her brisk footsteps. It was his 
last call to her; for her other Father, the great and 
good Father, whose claims and rights are first, also 
called her. Forth from that little cloud the quick 
lightning flashed, but the men observed it not. The 
next instant they heard the thunder crash and saw their 
little water bearer fallen on the earth. In a moment 
or two more, for she was not far away, that father 
raised from the ground the dear young form, but the 
other unseen messenger, God's good angel, was even 
then bearing upward the soul of little Dora. 

The lightning flash, strangely unseen, had separated 
soul and body, and what the sorrowful father raised 
from the ground was only a lifeless form. God has 
many ways in which to call His children home. Some- 
times it is diphtheria, sometimes the typhoid fever, 
sometimes the scarlet fever, and many other forms of 
what we call disease. Sometimes it is water; some- 
times wind; sometimes the gun or pistol shot; some- 
times the railroad crash; sometimes the lightning's 
flash. All are equally and alike under God's control, 
held firmly by His own strong hand. And not one elec- 
tric spark can flash beyond His permission. He, with- 
out whose notice and care not one sparrow falls on the 
ground, was then watching little Dora as she started 
from the well with the water. He knew of that little 
cloud and the lightning hid away in its foldings. He 
cared for Dora and took care of her. Does any child 
ask, "Why did God permit little Dora to come under 
that cloud just then? " Why? Why did He permit the 
gunshot that took the life of a little girl? Why did He 
permit the diphtheria to take all the children and 
darken a bright home? Why does he permit the 
measles, and the scarlet fever, and the typhoid? Why 
does He permit any little child to surfer, any little child 



82 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OE LAKE. 

to die? We need not ask "Why?" to God. " What?" is 
generally the form of the question which it is proper 
to ask of Him. "What is this lesson for me? 
What is my duty? What shall I do? What is Thy 
will concerning me?" Let us leave the " Whys?" for 
a future explanation, and rest now lovingly, trustingly, 
in the hands of that great and good Father, without 
whose action or permission not one event on earth 
takes place. Children have died in various ways in the 
county of Lake, but very seldom has one fallen to the 
earth beneath the lightning's flash. None are more 
safe here than birds and little children. 

A family pictured group, the picture but recently 
taken by the artist, may be seen in the home of the 
Seegers' family. It is a fine picture. And as little 
Dora stands there in her meek child innocence, so trust- 
ingly beside her father, she will stand no more. The 
pictured image of herself will remain; the living reality 
has passed out of this life. 




THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 83 

XXII. THE LE ROY UNION. 

This school most probably was commenced by Dr. 
W. B. Anderson, who resided for a time at Le Roy as 
a physician. He was an active Christian man, and 
zealous in the Sunday-school cause. The school was 
reported in 1875 and may have been organized in 1874. 
It soon became quite a strong and prosperous school. 
It was a union of United Presbyterians, Reformed 
Presbyterians, and Methodists. 

Dr. Anderson soon left the county, and the school 
was kept up by the families in the neighborhood 
around Le Roy. The school house was large, central, 
and quite well seated. Active in the school, as officers, 
teachers, and scholars, were members of the McKnight, 
Love, Baldwin, Wilson, Ross, Turner, Thompson, 
Stewart, Gibbs, and Nethery families. And this is 
not a full list of names. 

At length the time came for the erection of two 
church buildings in Le Roy, and then the school was 
divided. The Methodists occupying their house in 
1888, all united for a time in the school there. In 
April, 1889, a United Presbyterian school was opened 
in the Presbyterian house, the other school becoming 
Methodist Episcopal. Both schools have been prosper- 
ous. 

XXIII. EAGLE CREEK SCHOOLS. 
The date, " about I860," is assigned, in the annual 
report, for the organization of the first school at Eagle 
Creek. In those years the lower Eagle Creek school 
house was a center for quite a large community. In 
the first five months of the year 1862 a Baptist church 
was gathered there of sixty-four members, forty-four 
being there and then baptized. A Sabbath school 
should have prospered. " The ingathering was rapid ; 
the young men went into the army ; the pastor went as 



84 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

chaplain ; growth ceased." In 1868 eleven of those 
sixty-four were found ; but in 1872 twenty-five are 
found still in Sunday school. The only name yet 
secured for a superintendent here is that of E. M. Rob- 
ertson. The Fisher, Sarjeant, Ludy and several other 
families must have been interested in this school. 
When it was closed is not known. 

The present Eagle Creek school, organized as a new 
school in 1888, has been doing a good work. 



XXI V. THE HURLBURT SCHOOL. 
In the western part of Porter county, near Black- 
ley's Corners, has resided for many years a zealous and 
faithful Sunday-school worker, Isaac Hardesty; and 
not far from him resided his friend and fellow-laborer 
know as Deacon Peck. These both aided in keeping 
up several schools near the county line, and finding a 
neighborhood in Lake county without a school, one, if 
not both, of them came one mile within our borders 
and established one. These men were members of the 
farming community. They were in good circumstances. 
They were stout, heavy-built men, and then in middle 
age. They sought the good of the people. They were 
patriotic. They believed in the Bible teachings, and 
were sure those teachings would benefit every neighbor- 
hood. They could sing, and pray, and teach. They 
became true Sabbath-school men. Associated with 
them was David Hardesty. In what year they organ- 
ized the Hurlburt school, Mr. Hardesty, who is still 
living, can not now tell. Quite surely before 1870. 
Perhaps in 1867. The writer of this record, on his 
first visit to the school, found two of these noble work- 
ers carrying it on. In 1872 the school numbered about 
fifty members. A young man grew up in the neigh- 
borhood, Michael Wahl, and he was induced at 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. »0 

length to act as Superintendent. He has been kept in 
the office for many years. The school has grown to be 
the largest country school in the county, and only one 
or two town schools exceed it in numbers. Two of the 
sons of the Peck family, themselves men of middle age 
now, are, with their children, interested in the school. 
The names of the families of the neighborhood sustain- 
ing this school will be found in the enrollment list. 
The school owns an organ and has quite a large and 
new library. Some further mention of this school will 
be found in the Convention records. It has been up to 
this time a Union school. 

Note. — It is but justice to state that a note from the present 
Superintendent, M. Wahl, says: "The first school was organ- 
ized at Hurlburt's corner as early as 1856 or 1858." He says it 
was organized by Orrin Peck, that John L Riecker succeeded 
him and had charge about four years, till 1883, since which time 
he has himself had charge of the school. 



XXV. SUNDAY SCHOOLS AT ROSS. 
In September of the year 1852 Rev. George Wood- 
bridge removed with his family from Crown Point to 
Ross station. The Michigan Central railroad had been 
running trains on the newly constructed Joliet cut-off 
but a short time, and the station agent there was Mr. 

■ Wheeler. Mr. Amos Hornor became a resident in 

Ross in 1853. The railroad agent, who was different, 
surely, from many railroad men, organized here the first 
Sunday school, probably in 1853. Mr. A. Hornor, 
probably, was the second Superintendent. The custom 
was, for a time, to have Sabbath preaching every other 
Sunday morning at seven o'clock, and Bible class 
and prayer meeting every Sunday at four p. m. Mr. 
Wheeler, Mr. Hornor, and Rev. G. Woodbridge took 
turns in conducting the prayer meetings. Soon Mrs. 
Woodbridge became Superintendent, and she and Mrs. 



86 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OE LAKE. 

J. Muzzall, then Miss Irish, carried on the school. 
They raised over $20 in money and obtained a good 
library. The death of a relative, Mrs. Humphrey, 
called Mrs. Woodbridge away, and this, which bad 
been a Union school, was for a time closed. While' 
carried on by Mrs. Woodbridge and Mrs. Muzzall the 
school was evergreen. 

A school was again opened at Ross by Rev. Mr. Bacon 
and Rev. Mr. Rutherford, of the United Brethren 
Church. These made it a denominational school. The 
United Brethren school did not continue long, and 
then the school was reorganized, again Union, A. 
Hornor, Superintendent. About 1877 Eugene Kong- 
right was elected, again A. Hornor, and then L. T. 
Loucks. In 1878 a church building was erected and 
the school was held there. After the Band organization 
at Ross became a Congregational church, the school 
became denominational, and Mrs. N. C. Gallagher has 
since had charge of the school. The present member- 
ship is forty-five. This school was noted at the 
" twenty-fifth anniversary/' on the street and at the 
Fair Ground, for its fine appearance. After returning 
home from the anniversary, the school sent $4 to the 
missionary of the county for his special mission work, a 
contribution which he thoroughly appreciated. 

This has been for several years an evergreen school. 

An interesting institute was held here December 2 
and 3, 1887, the children of the public school and of the 
Sunday school having been then diligently trained by 
Miss Lida Smith and entering heartily into the insti- 
tute exercises. 
THE DEEP RIVER OR WOODVALE UNION SCHOOL. 

This school was organized in August, 1888, by the 
evangelist " Christian " minister of this district, Rev. 
Ellis B. Cross. First Superintendent, R. C. Mackey; 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 87 

second, William Prichett; third, George Billings; fourth, 
Charles Longshore; fifth, B. H. Wood. The school is 
prospering. 

SCHOOLS OF 1888. 
This year is noted for the number of new schools. 
Some of these are mentioned elsewhere, but a brief 
notice of organization is inserted here, taken from Our 
Banner for the most part. 

1. The Bruce Union school was organized Febru- 
ary 5, 1888. Classes, 4. Enrolled, 27. Rev. J. Bruce, 
Superintendent; Miss LoisKaplin, Secretary; Miss Mir- 
tie Hay den, Treasurer. 

2. The Oak Grove Union school was organized 
April 1, 1888. Classes, 3. Members, 20. 

3. The Morrison school was organized April 15, 
1888. William Gibbs, of Hebron, Superintendent. 
Number of members, 30. 

4. The Eagle Creek Union school was organized 
April 22, 1888. Palmer Temple, Superintendent. 
Classes, 7. Enrolled, 43. Secretary, Miss Maggie Ludy. 

5. River Eidge Union school opened May 20, 1888, 
more fully organized May 27. Mrs. Eva Latta, Superin- 
tendent; Miss Lettie Stowell, Secretary; Miss Hattie 
Gale, Librarian; George Stowell, Treasurer. 

6. The Sand Ridge school was organized May 27, 
1888. Superintendent, Amos Hornor. 

7. In June, 1888, was organized the Episcopal 
school at Hammond. 

8. August, 1888, was organized the Deep River 
Union school, by Rev. Ellis B. Cross. 

9. In November, 1888, was organized the East 
Chicago Methodist school. 

At a few of these localities there have been schools 
in past years, but these are all essentially new schools. 

10. " On Sunday, December 23, 1888, was organ- 



88 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

ized at Hammond the Hammond Christian Sunday 
school. Superintendent, J. L. Adams; Secretary, Mrs. 
M. E. Burrows. Classes, three. No. [of members] 

twenty." 

SHEFFIELD OR ROBERTSDALE. 

In 1884 a school was held in the northwestern school 
house of the county, conducted by Miss Minnie Chap- 
man (now Mrs. Jenks, of Illinois), then a Lake county 
girl and a public school teacher. This was called the 
Sheffield school. The first school house was very near 
the shore of Lake Michigan, sheltered by trees and by 
sand ridges. In the summer it was a pleasant, secluded 
spot for the gathering of the few children who met 
there, the clear waters of the lake washing a beach of 
pure, white sand only a few rods away. The present 
school house is further away from the great lake. 



LAKE GEORGE SCHOOL. 

A few years ago comparatively few families were 
living in the north part of North township. South of 
Whiting Station, near the eastern shore of Lake George, 
called on the map of 1873 Berry Lake, was kept up 
for a short time a little neighborhood Sunday school, 
conducted by Mr. Gallagher, now living near Ross. 
The Secretary of the county Union, in his visits to the 
school, once reached this then secluded place in the 
wilds of our old North township, little thinking that in 
a few years one of the great oil refineries of the world 
would gather so many people within that one square 
mile of surface. 

At the time of this writing it is claimed that there 
are in Whiting, a town built up by the Standard Oil 
Company, in round numbers, "1,700 men" and "700 
women," and that "some 45 houses are in process of 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 89 

construction." To look at the oil tanks in hundreds 
and at the buildings there, at the rows of neat dwelling 
houses, at the church and Sunday-school life, one 
would think that the days of the Gallagheb Lake 
George Sunday school must have been half way back to 
the old Indian times. Improvement of some kinds is 
making here the real giant strides. 



THE HAMMOND SCHOOLS. 

Settlements were not made very early along the Cal- 
umet and the State line, where is now the city of Ham- 
mond. A few families, among them the Hohman, 
Sohl, Drecker, Miller, Goodman, and Wolf families, 
found homes there between 1850 and 1865. About 
1869 the George II. Hammond Company located a 
slaughter house here and commenced shipping beef to 
Eastern, and soon to Foreign, markets. Families from 
New England connected with this new enterprise made 
homes in this locality, and in 1872 they organized a 
Sunday school in a small school house near the Calu- 
met river. The officers were: M. M. Towle,, Superin- 
tendent; Miss Dow, now Mrs. C. C. Smith, Secretary; 
Miss Louisa Sohl, now Mrs. Beall, Treasurer. And 
these, with Mrs. M. M. Towle, were the teachers. 
Religious services were also held at the school house 
(Hammond has now its third school house); Brother 
Williams, a farmer, who became a student at Evanston, 
also afterwards, Brother Baker, from Evanston, aiding 
in the school and preaching to the people. The school 
increased in numbers as the group of clustered families 
grew into a town, and the locality was changed to the 
second school house. Here the school was re-organized 
in 1879, by Porter B. Towle, now a well-known editor 
and newspaper publisher in the city of Hammond, hav- 
ing then just come into Lake county from Massachu- 



90 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

setts, and taking an active interest in Sunday-school 
work, and in giving literary and moral lectures. By 
him the school was kept up at the school house until it 
was removed in 1880 to the Union chapel that was 
erected. There the school was continued, as it had 
been carried on at the school house, being the one Sun- 
day school of Hammond, others also aiding in the 
school, among them A. A. Winslow and Mrs. Winslow. 
In 1883 a lethodist church organization was perfected, 
and the next year a church, building was erected, dedi- 
cated in December, 1883, where the school has since 
been held, as the Methodist Episcopal school of Ham- 
mond. A. A. Winslow, editor of the Hammond Trib- 
une, and F. H. Tuthill, have been the superintendents. 
Mrs. Dr. Vandewalker has been one of the active and 
earnest teachers, and Miss Alice Sohl has had charge 
much of the time of the infant class. This has become, 
by far, the largest class of little children, and this 
school the largest school in the county. 

October 2, 1887, was organized the " Hammond 
Congregational Sunday school." Officers then: Super- 
intendent, J. B. Guthrie; Assistant, Mrs. E. C. Gero; 
Librarian, Mrs. P. B. Towle; Secretary and Treasurer, 
Mrs. W. Gostlin. " The meetings have been held in 
the rink, but are now to be in the city court room." 
" Now " is November, 1887. 

"A third Sunday school was organized October 16th, 
with six classes and some thirty scholars. W. R. Jones, 
Superintendent; Mrs. P. B. Towle, Assistant Superin- 
tendent; Miss Lesta Jones, Secretary. This is called 
the Hammond North Side Congregational school." 

This school was held in the home of Brother E. R. 
Williams, through the first winter, in two very pleas- 
ant rooms, kindly furnished by this pleasant, Christian, 
Americanized, Welch family. Brother Williams soon 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 91 

became the leader of the school, and its name was 
slightly changed. Editor P. B. Towle, Miss Ousley, J. 
B. Guthrie, and others took an active interest in both 
these schools. The number in the north side school 
increased, and a chapel room was built, adjoining the 
Williams home, which became the Sunday-school home. 
The school has manifested a vigorous life. Eighty 
members were reported this year, and now a Congrega- 
tional church building has been erected, to be, perhaps 
for years, the assembling place for this school, its third 
home spot. An excellent religious or Christian spirit 
seems to prevail in this school. A grand mission work 
it may yet accomplish . 

' 'A fourth school was organized November 13th, 
with about twenty scholars. C. D. Varney, Superin- 
tendent; Miss Clara Irish, Assistant; C. J. Giliett, Sec- 
retary and Treasurer. This is a Baptist school, at pres- 
ent the second Baptist school in Lake county." 

The above is a journal record of the organization of 
the present Baptist school of Hammond. For some 
time the school sessions were held in a hall. In 1888 
a church building was erected, in which, since then, 
the school, with a large increase in numbers, has been 
held. 

The Episcopalian school, known as St. Paul's Mis- 
sion Sunday school, was opened in June, 1888. Of 
course the members of this school do not use the Inter- 
national Series of Lessons, but study the" lessons of the 
church year. Those who know the forms of worship of 
this church, of which this is the only Sunday school in 
the county, need not to be reminded that in this school 
are observances which are impressive and attractive. 

In this same year of lb88 was organized a "Chris- 
tian" Sunday school. A church of this denomination, 
the Hammond Christian church, was organized Decern- 



92 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

ber 23, 1888, by Rev. Ellis B. Cross, with twenty-four 
members. The school numbered sixty members, but 
having no house for worship, and rents being high in 
that young, growing city, financial reasons caused a dis- 
continuance of the school. It was re-organized Decem- 
ber 21, 1890. Superintendent, Wilson; Secretary, 

H. E. Ball; Treasurer, Mrs. Isaac Hammond. 

A German Methodist school was organized as early 
as 1883, and conducted for a time in the Hammond 
Methodist church ; but this school, small, yet pleasant 
and for a time prosperous, was discontinued. The 
present school was organized after the German Method- 
ist house of worship was erected in 1889, and it is a 
growing, prosperous school. 

The Plymouth Congregational school, taking, in some 
sort, the place of the South Side Congregational school, 
was organized in the summer of 1890. It is, therefore, 
a new school. As the church with which this school is 
connected has erected this year a house for religious 
worship, the school may be expected to continue, to 
grow, and to be an instrumentality for good in the com- 
ing years. 

EAST CHICAGO SCHOOLS. 

The first family making a home in what is now quite 
widely known as East Chicago was the family of Mr. 
Penman. Mrs. Penman came August 2, 1888. Now 
East Chicago has three church buildings, one hundred 
and sixty-four children were enumerated in May last, 
and already the place has the appearance of a city. In 
a region of remarkable growth its own growth has been 
surprising. 

The East Chicago Methodist Episcopal school was 
organized in November, 1888. Its membership is about 
thirty. Superintendent, Mrs. J. V. Richardson. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 93 

The East Chicago Congregational school was organ- 
ized in November, 1889. Membership about forty. 
Superintendent, L. T. Loucks. 



WHITING. . 

At Whiting, on Easter Sunday, 1890, was organized 
the Plymouth Congregational Sunday school. In this 
Standard Oil Company young city there will surely soon 
be room and need for more. 



LIKE COUNTY SUNDAY SCHOOL CONVENTION. 
Having finished our anniversary review of the schools 
of the county, let us listen to a brief rehearsal concern- 
ing the county organization. 

The County Union, called Convention, was organized 
at Crown Point, September 16, 1865. Those taking an 
active part in the organization were, Rev. J. L. Lower, 
Rev. R. B. Young, Rev. T. H. Ball, perhaps a few 
others, of Crown Point; Judge Ball, of Cedar Lake; 
H. B. Austin and M. A. Halsted, of Lowell. The first 
officers were: Hervey Ball, President; Rev. R. B. Young, 
Vice-president ; Rev. J. L. Lower, Secretary, and M. A. 
Halsted, Treasurer. 

PLACES OF MEETING. 

1866, Lowell. 1878, Crown Point. 

1867, Crown Point. 1879, Cedar Lake. 

1868, Crown Point. 1880, Crown Point. 

1869, Crown Point. 1881, Cedar Lake. 

1870, Plum Grove. 1882, Lowell. 

1871, Lowell. 1883, Crown Point. 

1872, Crown Point. 1884, Crown Point. 

1873, Crown Point. 1885, Hammond. 

1874, South East Grove. 1886, Lowell. 

1875, Crown Point. 1887, Lake Station. 

1876, Crown Point. 1888, Hobart. 

1877, Lowell. 1889, Crown Point. 

1890, Crown Point. 



94 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

CONSTITUTION. 

Article 1. This organization shall be called the 
Lake County Sabbath School Convention. 

Art. 2. Its object shall be the promotion of the 
cause of Sabbath schools by endeavoring to awaken a 
greater interest in the religious instruction of youth, 
and by bringing the friends of the cause more fully 
together for co-operation in their efforts. 

Art. 3. The members shall be the pastors, and 
the officers and teachers of the Sabbath schools of the 
county who act with the Convention. 

Art. 4. The officers shall be a President, a Vice- 
President in each township, a Secretary, and a Treas- 
urer, to be chosen at each annual meeting. 

Art. 5. The Convention shall hold annually on 
the last Wednesday in August a celebration at such 
place as may be designated from year to year, to which 
celebration all the schools shall be invited, whether or 
not represented in this organization. 

Art. 6. There shall be an Executive Committee 
of three appointed each year to provide speakers for the 
annual meeting, and attend to such other duties as may 
promote the interests of the Sunday-school cause. 

Art. 7. A Committee of Arrangements shall be 
appointed to prepare grounds and take the charge 
thereof at each celebration. 

Art. 8. Quarterly meetings shall be held in differ- 
ent parts of the county in February, May, and Novem- 
ber, at which the Vice-president for the township in 
which such meeting is held shall preside, and for which 
the Superintendent of the school with which held shall 
arrange exercises. 

PRESIDENTS OF THE LAKE COUNTY SUNDAY- 
SCHOOL CONVENTION FROM 
1865 TO 1890. 

BY MISS ELLEN LITTLE. 

Judge Hervey Ball, the first President of the Lake 
County Sunday School Convention, was elected to that 
office at the first meeting of the Convention, September 
16, 1865, that meeting being held, as this one is, at the 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 95 

county seat. A better presiding officer could not have 
been chosen, Judge Ball being a man of education, 
refinement, and ability, a lawyer of no small caliber, and 
an earnest Christian worker. He was a native of Mas- 
sachusetts, but in 1837, with his family of little ones, he 
came West and took up land on the west side of Cedar 
Lake. The country was new at that time, and men of 
learning and ability were in great demand. School 
advantages were limited, and for this reason the Judge 
and his accomplished wife decided to open a private 
school for their own and the children of other settlers. 

In 1840 the Cedar Lake Sunday school was organized, 
with Judge Ball for Superintendent. He was the first 
and only Clerk of the Cedar Lake Baptist Church, the 
Clerk and Moderator of the Northern Indiana Baptist 
Association, a Trustee of Franklin College, Judge of 
the Probate Court, President of the Agricultural 
Society, Master of a Masonic Lodge, and an officer in 
the Good Templars' Lodge. 

He possessed an excellent library, which he gener- 
ously threw open to the youth around him. On account 
of his health he was obliged to decline a second re-elec- 
tion in 1867, and in a little more than a year afterward, 
when nearly seventy-four years of age, he passed to his 
long home, his life having been most salutary in its 
impression upon those with whom he mingled. 

Rev. Hiram Wason, of Lake Prairie, was the second 
man to be elected President of the Convention, which 
position he held from 1867 to 1872. 

Mr. Wason was born in New Boston, N. H., in 1814. 
He was a graduate of Amherst. In 1857, after a long 
pastorate at Vevay, Ind., he removed to Lake county, 
and for seven years acted as pastor of the Lake Prairie 
Presbyterian Church, during which time twenty-three 
were added to that church by profession of faith and 



96 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

thirty-one by letter. He was also Superintendent of 
the Sunday school, which, under his efficient leadership, 
became one of the largest and most prosperous in the 
county. 

He was a member of the State Legislature during 
'67 and '68. To him belongs the credit of securing the 
passage of a bill by which the township trustee may be 
allowed to draw a tax of 25 cents on $100 for school 
purposes. Since the close of his ministry at Lake 
Prairie he has continued to live upon his farm in that 
place, and now, though well along in the seventies, he 
is still a regular attendant of the Sabbath school and a 
willing witness to the truth and beauty of the Christian 
religion. 

Rev. R. B. Young, after having served as Vice- 
president of the Convention seven years, was in 1872 
elected President and served one term. Mr. Young 
came into Lake county in 1853 as a circuit preacher. 
After being on the circuit one year he settled in Crown 
Point where he opened a drug store. In 1861 he was 
the preacher at Crown Point and in 1872 preacher at 
Lowell. He was a man of strong temperance and relig- 
ious principles, and very active for his age. He died 
April 24, 1879, being at the time of his death seventy- 
five years of age. 

The fourth president of the Convention, for the 
years '73 and '74, was Rev. Dr. S. Fleming, pastor of 
the Presbyterian church in Crown Point. He died in 
Michigan a few years ago, age and date of death un- 
known. 

" Died at his home in Crown Point, Ind., February 
14, 1890, David Turner, aged 73 years, 1 month and 28 
days.-" Judge Turner, concerning whom this notice was 
given in a February number of the "Star," was Presi- 
dent of the S. S. Convention for the year '74 and '75 . 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 97 

He was born in Ohio, but in early youth removed to 
this county, with his parents. The pioneer of those 
early days had few of the advantages of a Lake county 
boy of '90, and so the education of young David was 
acquired mostly by wise home training and by personal 
investigation of those subjects which his thirst for 
knowledge led him to study without a teacher. He 
held in succession the positions of probate judge, county 
representative, State senator and assessor of internal 
revenues. His political career was marked by a purity 
of motive and action which may well serve as a model 
to the youth of our county. His character can, per- 
haps, be best expressed when we say that he passed his 
earthly pilgrimage, " doing justly, loving mercy, and 
walking humbly with his God." 

Mr. Hugh Boyd, presiding officer from 1875 to 1877, 
came to Lake county in 1865, and in 1874 purchased the 
farm near Southeast Grove where he now resides. Mr. 
Boyd has paid considerable attention to dairying. He 
has served as township trustee two terms and for several 
years has been superintendent of the Southeast Grove 
S. S. He is a Presbyterian and a man of stanch princi- 
ples. 

To John L. Worley, of Lowell, belongs the honor of 
serving the convention as president for the longest 
term of years, from 1877 to 1886, when he declined 
another re-election. Also he is the first native born of 
the State to hold that position, his birthplace being 
near Union City, and the date of his birth being April 
28, 1820. His education in the school room was lim- 
ited, as that of many of his companions, but this 
deficiency was remedied by private exertions. Coming 
to Lake county in 1839, and, therefore, one of its pio- 
neers, he entered the tract of land where he now lives, 
several miles south of Lowell. 



98 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

He has been a prominent member of the Christian 
Church at Lowell and an enthusiastic Sabbath-school 
worker and teacher, Mr. Worley has also gained quite 
a reputation as local preacher. 

Mr. A. A. Winslow, of Hammond, presiding officer 
for the year 1886 and/87, was the first of the second 
generation of Sabbath-school workers, as also the first 
native of Lake county to hold that office. His boyhood 
home was Crown Point. After spending a number of 
years in the capacity of a public school teacher, he 
entered upon his career as editor and publisher and set- 
tled in Hammond. At the time of his .presidency the 
Hammond Methodist S. S., of which he was Superin- 
tendent, was the largest in the county. He has always 
been a faithful teacher, and the school has shown its 
confidence in his abilities by electing him again as 
Superintendent. 

Our present presiding officer, Mr. Cyrus F. Dickin- 
son, of Lowell, has held the position since 1887. He is 
a member of the Christian Church, and Superintendent 
of the Lowell Union S. S. He is well known as a man 
well versed in music and, as such, has often added to 
the interest of our conventions. 

These are our nine presidents, and though they have 
been men of diverse vocations and of various religious 
denominations, in regard to the Sunday-school work 
they have been as one. 



OFFICERS OF THE CONVENTION-A SUMMARY. 
PRESIDENTS. 

1. Judge Hervey Ball, 1865-1 867. Died October 13, 
1868, nearly seventy-four years of age. 

2. Rev.~H. Wason, 1867-1872. 

3. Rev. R. B. Young, 1872-1873. Died April 24, 
1879, seventy-five years of age. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 99 

4. Eev. Dr, Fleming, 1873-1874. Died in Michi- 
gan, age unknown. 

5. Judge David Turner, 1874-1875. Died Febru- 
ary 14, 1890, seventy-three years of age. 

6. H. Boyd, 1875-1877. 

7. J. L. Worley, 1877-1886. 

8. A. A. Winslow, 1886-1887. 

9. Cyrus F. Dickinson, 1887-1890. 

VICE-PRESIDENTS. 

1. Rev. R. B. Young, 1865-1867. 

2. Rev. R. B. Young, Rev. John Bruce, Rev. B. 
Weils, Dr. A. Brownell, H. Meyer, J. S. Sanders, H. B. 
Austin, 1867-1869. 

3. Rev. R. B. Young, 1869-1872. 

4. 0. R. Spencer, J. Underwood, 0. L. Hannaman, 
J. S. Sanders, H. Frevert, Rev. H. Wason, (1. W. 
Handley, E. M. Robertson, 1872-1873. 

5. Rev. H. AYason, J. L. Worley, 1873-1874, 

6. Rev. H. Wason, Rev. J. Bruce, 1874-1875. 

7. Dr. W. B. Anderson, 1875-1877. 

8. No record, 1877-1881. 

9. Rev. J. H. Dueringer, J. Curtis, Mrs. M. J. 
Dinwiddie, Orson Bacon, H. Farmer, H. Meyer, Amos 
Hornor, Mrs. S. Kean, A. A. Winslow, 1881-1884. 

10. Rev. H. Wason, 1884-1886. 

11. Cyrus F: Dickinson, 1886-1887. 

12. T. E. Lincoln, 1887-1888. 

13. Michael Wahl, 1888-1890. 

When several were elected, one was for each town- 
ship. In 1884 or 1885, the title was changed and these 
were called Presidents. 

TOWNSHIP PRESIDENTS. 

Elected as early as 1885 and re-elected up to 1890: 
North, Mrs. Dr. Vandewalker; Calumet, L. T. Loucks; 



100 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

Hobart, Mrs. S. K. Rice; Ross, Mrs. M. J. Hyde; St. 
Johns, Mrs. A. Davis; Hanover, A. Einspahr; Center, 
Mrs. S. G. Wood; Winfield, J. P. Baldwin; Eagle 
Creek, M. Nichols; Cedar Creek, H. Dickinson; West 
Creek, Lewis G. Little. 

SECRETAEIES. 

1. Rev. J. L. Lower, 1865-1866. 

2. Rev. T. H. Ball, 1866-1877. 

3. Prof. 0. J. Andrews, 1877-1879. 

4. Rev. T. H. Ball, 1879-1890. 

5. Rev. L. W. A. Luckey, 1890. 

TREASURERS. 

1. M. A. Halsted. 

2. M. L. Barber. 

3. Rev. H. Wason, 1879-1884. 

4. Perry Jones, 1884-1888. 

5. F. H. Tuthill, 1888-1890. 

6. Perry Jones, 1890. 

So far as known the first Sunday-school celebration 
of the comity was held at Crown Point about 1847. 
Another was held at Crown Point in 1854. This gath- 
ering was not what would now be called large, as the 
schools all met within the walls of the Presbyterian 
church. There were five banners then present and 
" several small schools," among which was the Plum 
Grove school, all meeting with the L T nio'n Sunday school 
of Crown Point. But two names can with certainty 
be given of those then present — Rev. William Townley, 
of Crown Point, and Mrs. M. J. Dinwiddie, of Plum 
Grove. 

With her were some of the children of that school 
who are now, probably, men and women somewhere in 
the land. 

A third was held at Lowell, in 1863, of which men- 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 101 

tion has been made. The fourth was at Crown Point 
in 1864. The fifth was at Cedar Lake, in 1865. And 
soon after this very pleasant celebration the county 
organization was formed and anniversary meetings 
began to be held. 

EXTRACTS PROM CONVENTION RECORDS. 

These are taken, mainly, from "Lake County, 
1884/' a book now "out of print," scarce a copy of 
which could be obtained "for Jove or money; " and as 
many of the present and future Sunday-school members 
in the county can have no access to copies of that work, 
a few extracts are inserted here. 

Second Anniversary, 1867: 

" Thirteen schools reported, twelve of them more or 
less fully represented on the ground. Among these, the 
Lowell Union reported by far the largest number of 
scholars; the Lake Prairie school, the largest number 
of church members; the Lake Prairie and Methodist 
Episcopal of Crown Point, the largest number of 
volumes; the Crown Point Baptist school, the largest 
number of conversions during the year. The Orchard 
Grove and Lowell schools displayed upon the grounds 
the most showy banners. The Plum Grove school with 
its four-horse team, banner, and ' stars and stripes/ 
appeared on the street as the strongest force." 

The first annual report which was now made, Aug- 
ust, 1867, gave the following : Sixteen schools in the 
county, thirteen reported. Of these, three were Meth- 
odist, one was Presbyterian, one Independent Presby- 
terian, one Baptist, seven Union. Number of teachers, 
110; scholars, 790; volumes in libraries, 2,020; died in 
the year, 6; converted, 32; church members, 133; 
inhabitants in the county, 9,145; school children enu- 
merated, 3,588; Number of school districts, 80. 



102 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

Fourth Anniversary, 1869: 

"E. Payson Porter, of Chicago, was present, and 
by request spoke concerning the Newsboys' and Boot- 
blacks' Mission, of Chicago." 

" The three Grove schools, Orchard, Plum, and 
South East, seem deserving of special notice for their 
four-horse teams, banners, and large representations." 

Fifth Anniversary, August 31, 1870, at Plum Grove: 

" The gathering at Plum Grove was very large. 
Thirty schools were reported and thirty places of 
Protestant Sabbath preaching." 

Seventh Anniversary: 

i( For the first time a dark and rainy morning. The 
Secretary reported that he had, between September 3d 
of last year, and August 25th of this year, visited nearly 
all the schools of the county. He reported in Deer 
Creek school fifteen conversions." 

Eighth Anniversary: 

"The Secretary reported twenty-seven schools and 
whole number of members 1,162." 

Tenth Anniversary: 

" Thirty schools reported." 

" The Le Koy Union school from Cassville arrived 
first in Crown Point. Soon after came the Plum Grove 
and Robinson prairie schools. Next in order arrived 
the South East Grove and Center schools. These 
schools came in strong force, the Le Roy school pro- 
cession led by a six-horse team, the Plum Grove banner 
wagon being drawn by four horses and carrying 
twenty-four persons, the Prairie school having two four- 
horse teams." 

Fifteenth Anniversary, 1880: 

As this year was celebrated by the Sunday-school 
world as their first hundredth year, the following from 
the Secretary's book is inserted in full: 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 103 

ANNIVERSARY EXERCISES OF THE CENTENNIAL YEAR. 

The following was the order of exercises at the 
North Street Concert Monday evening, August 23. 

1. Opening words, among which the Saviour's 
teachings from the lilies and the birds were named. A 
beautiful lily, from the green-house, of the variety 
called amaryllis, with five flowers in full bloom, with 
large bouquets of beautiful flowers, adorned the room. 

2. Prayer. 

3. Singing. 

4. A Scripture exercise, Ps. 136 and 107 read by 
four voices. 

5. A recitation by Miss Addie R. Woodard," The 
Old Story. " 

6. A poem read by Miss Cynthia Wood, " Coming. " 

7. Singing. 

8. An article from the Sunday-school Times, 
" Tempted to give up, » read by Rev. T. H. Ball. 

9. A recitation by Miss Alice Palmer, "The 
Land of Light. " 

10. A recitation by Miss Ella Clay, " All in Bloom. " 

11. A song by Miss May Saylor. 

12. Recitation by Miss G. E. Ball, " The Seen and 
Unseen. " 

13. Singing. 

Closed with prayer by Rev. 0. C. Haskell. 

A good and appreciative audience was present; and 
the exercises, occupying one hour and a quarter, were 
of choice selections, well prepared and well rendered. 

TUESDAY AFTERNOON EXERCISES. 

A number met for Sunday-school institute work 
at the M. E. church. 

The President of the County Convention, J. L. Wor- 
ley, occupied the chair. Rev. H. Sheeley, pastor of 
the Presbyterian church of Lake Prairie, was present; 



104 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

also Mrs. Dinwiddie and Miss Mary Dinwiddle from 
Plum Grove. Three of the schools in Crown Point 
were represented, by teachers present. After a 
season spent in devotional exercises, an essay was read 
by 0. J. Andrews. Eemarks were made by Rev. H. 
Sheeley. 

The following question was then presented: What 
means can we employ to secure more conversions among 
the children? 

Remarks were offered by Judge Turner, Mrs. Wood, 
and others. The discussion was earnest and instructive. 

The question of uniting with the State Union was 
deferred till Wednesday. 

TUESDAY EVENING. 

An essay was read by Rev. M. Carson, and questions 
concerning the creative days, the first man, the deluge, 
and the work of the Holy Spirit, were discussed by 
Judge Turner and Rev. T. H. Ball. 

WEDNESDAY, MASS CONVENTION EXERCISES. 

1. Opened with Singing, Ps. 24 and 23, and 
prayer by Rev. 0. C. Haskell. 

2. Address of welcome by Rev. T. H. Ball, in the 
absence of others, with a response from the President. 

3. Singing by the Lowell M. E. school. 

4. Report of Secretary. 

5. Singing by the Crown Point schools. 

6. Basket Dinner. 

7. Singing by the Cedar Lake German school and 
the Handley school. 

8. Ps. 121 and 122 and the Lord's Prayer by the 
North Street Baptist school. 

9. Address by Rev. Mr. Doering, German Method- 
ist pastor. 

10. Singing by Plum Grove school. 

11. Catechetical exercise on the first twelve most 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 105 

noted men of the Bible narrative. The following were 
named as these men: 

Adam, because he was the first man; 

Abel, because his name stands first in the eleventh 
of Hebrews as eminent for faith; 

Enoch, because he walked with G-od and was trans- 
lated; 

Noah, because he was the one righteous man when 
(i the world that then was, being overflowed with water, 
perished;" 

Abraham, because he was the father of the faithful, 
with whom the great covenants were made; 

Melchizedec, because he was the priest of the most 
high God, the king of Salem, greater than Abraham, 
the one priest after whose order Jesus Christ as an ever- 
lasting priest was made; 

Isaac, because he stood next to Abraham in receiv- 
ing the Messianic promises; 

Jacob, because he received the same promises, the 
land grant being confirmed to him "for an everlasting 
covenant. " 

Judah, because he was the head of the kingly- 
tribe, in whose line came the Messiah; 

Levi, because he was the head of the priestly tribe. 

Joseph, because he became ruler of Egypt and his 
sons Ephraim and Manasseh were adopted by Jacob to 
become the heads of Jewish tribes. 

Moses, because he was a great prophet, the leader 
chosen to deliver his nation from Egyptian bondage, 
with whom God spake face to face as a man speaketh to 
his friend. 

12. Singing by the Cedar Lake German school. 

13. The question in regard to becoming auxiliary 
to the State Union was referred to the superintendents 
of the county, to report to the Secretary. 



106 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

14. The present officers were re-elected. 

15. Singing by Crown Point schools. 

16. Appointed the next anniversary to be held at 
Cedar Lake, the next quarterly meeting to be at Mer- 
rillville. 

17. A vote of thanks to Mr. Prier, for the use of 
the old Fair Ground, was passed. Adjourned. 

Sixteenth Anniversary, 1881: 

ic Most all of the older members of the Convention, 
now in the county, were present. It was, indeed, a 
re-union of Sabbath-school friends, some of whom had 
not been able to attend such a meeting for nine years. 
The Secretary reported twenty-five schools, eighteen of 
which he had visited when they were in session. He 
reported the largest infant class in the Methodist school 
at Hobart, numbering eighty-five, and the second at Lake 
Prairie, numbering thirt}^ three." 

Eighteenth Anniversary, 1883: 

"Many of the schools were present with large dele- 
gations, the Hammond school representatives number- 
ing 170. Among the others may be named the Plum 
Grove and Orchard Grove, the South East Grove and 
Center, the Lake Prairie, the Cedar Lake, the Crown 
Point Methodist and Presbyterian, the Merrillville and 
Butler, and the Lake Home. Other schools were rep- 
resented by smaller numbers. The Lake and Hammond 
schools were present for the first time." The following 
was one address delivered: 

AN ADDRESS BY T. H. BALL. 

PREPARED EXPRESSLY EOR THE LAKE COUNTY SUNDAY 

SCHOOL CONVENTION", AND DELIVERED 

AUGUST 29, 1883. 

Subject: The Desirableness of Cultivating a Mis- 
sionary Spirit. 

We recognize these facts: That God " hath made 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 107 

of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the 
face of the earth," all the families of man having a 
common origin, all being descendants from one human 
pair; 

That a Saviour was provided for all mankind, 
according to that early promise made to Abraham, 
"and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be 
blessed;" 

That, as yet, millions of human beings have no 
knowledge of a Saviour, and are living still, after 
almost nineteen hundred years of the Christian age 
have passed, in the dark night of heathenism, worship- 
ing idols and false gods; and 

That it is a duty pressing upon all persons in the 
Christian lands to send the light of life to the benighted 
nations of the earth. As the missionary hymn of 
Bishop Heber says: 

' ' Shall we whose souls are lighted 
With wisdom from on high, 
Shall we to men benighted 
The lamp of life deny? 
Salvation! oh, salvation! 

The joyful sound proclaim, 
Till earth's remotest nation 

Has learned Messiah's name! " 
I have now stated four great facts, and who can 
doubt that the grandest object for which we can live 
here, after having begun to love and obey Jesus Christ, 
is to strive to lead others to love and obey Jesus Christ? 
Our Saviour said, " All power is given unto me in 
heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore and teach all 
nations." We have his express command to carry and to 
send this glorious Gospel over all the earth, to bring it 
to the ears, and, if possible, to the hearts of all man- 
kind. And this is what we call "missionary" work, 
a work which is all one in its two special departments 



108 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

at home and abroad, in our own land and in other 
lands, wherever on the face of the earth human beings 
dwell. It is a work that has now, for the last hundred 
years, enlisted the love and the sympathies, and called 
forth the energies of many of the noblest, of the most 
grandly endowed, of the loveliest, of the men and 
women and children of Christian lands. The chapters 
in the world's history that will tell of the carrying of 
the Gospel to the islands of the South Sea, to Madagas- 
car and to Africa, to the frozen regions of the North, 
to the Karens and Brahmins and Buddhists of India, 
to the crowded millions of China and Japan, will be far 
more grand than any chapters that will tell of national 
conquests, of battles lost and battles won. There is no 
work on earth so grand as that which has for its object 
the winning of souls, the winning of this world, to 
Christ. And in the coming fifty years there is to be 
done a mighty work in, perhaps, finishing up or almost 
finishing up, the preaching of the Gospel among the 
tribes and nations of the earth. Privileged will those 
be who have an active part in this great work. 

We need to cultivate, as Sunday-school friends and 
workers, a more earnest and richer missionary spirit. 
What is life worth in the great reckonings of the uni- 
verse, that is spent, as to its few brief years on earth, 
in selfish pursuits, in seeking pleasure, in gaining riches, 
in securing fame ? li Nothing but leaves," '* no gar- 
nered sheaves " to present to the Lord of the soil ! 
When the harvest time comes we will all want some few 
full sheaves, some bundles of grain, in our arms to 
bring when the angels shout the " harvest home." What 
can be so pitiful, when the Saviour comes and the angel 
bands, as to have lived here for self, to have lived in 
vain, and to gain not one smile from an angel then, not 
one look of love from the Lord of all ? When, instead 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 109 

of putting on the beauty of immortality, it will be the 
shame and the disgrace of an everlasting defeat ; of 
having wasted life and lost the enduring rewards of 
faithful service to be bestowed upon multitudes by the 
eternal King, when the arches ring of the world of light 
with the songs of praise to the Ancient of Days. The 
thought of opportunities lost must eat into the soul 
forever. 

We need to cultivate, I have said, a richer and more 
earnest missionary spirit. The world is open for effort. 
There are brave and loving hearts now in almost every 
land. They are struggling on, bearing sometimes many 
burdens, and they need help — they need helping hands 
as well as praying hearts. 

I have here a small map of a great kingdom, the 
kingdom of China. The Chinese Empire, you know, is 
the second in area and the first in population among the 
kingdoms and empires of the earth. We are told that it 
contains more than one-third of all the inhabitants of the 
earth. And in Christian England an effort has been com- 
menced to evangelize it, to win some of its vast 
throngs for Christ. In 1865 was formed The China 
Inland Mission, including members, it is said, "of all 
the leading denominations of Christians." They have 
already opened more than seventy stations and out-sta- 
tions, they have one hundred and one missionaries on 
the field, thirty men and their wives and forty-one 
unmarried, and about one hundred native helpers. 
This, mission work is sustained by donations from vari- 
ous sources, one family donation in the year just 
passed amounting to three thousand pounds sterling, 
or about fifteen thousand dollars. Many Chinese have 
been converted and baptized, and many copies of the 
Scripture and many religious tracts have been distrib- 
uted, and the work is going successfully on. Japan and 



110 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

India are also now great missionary fields, and the 
doors of entrance into all the heathen world seem to be 
open wide. It is an age and it is a time calling for 
workers and for means to aid the laborers in their 
work. Crown Point has one representative in the mis- 
sion field in distant India, that land of teeming mil- 
lions, of mighty resources, of great historic events. 
Mrs. Annie Turner Morgan was a few years ago a 
member of the Crown Point Presbyterian Sunday 
school, with as little thought that she would ever leave 
home and friends and native land and give her life to 
the Saviour's cause on the other side of the world as 
any young girl who is a member of our schools to-day 
There may be girls here to-day who will also go to some 
far-off land to aid in extending the glad news of salva- 
tion. There may be here some boy who will yet 
preach Christ in, to us, an unknown tongue and on a 
far-off shore. We do not know what for us God has in 
store, but it is time for us to think of these things, to 
think and also to do, in sending the blessings of the 
Gospel, of a Christian civilization with all that it 
means of home and comfort, of virtue and intelligence, 
of the spread of science and of art, of manufactures 
and of commerce, of railroads and telegraphs and tele- 
phones, of the healing art and of charitable institutions, 
of the uplifting of woman, and the caring for helpless 
childhood, of a true and polished literature as well as a 
true religion — in sending all these to the now low and 
degraded tribes and families of man whether in the 
wilds of Africa or on the islands of the sea. If we do 
not go we can send, we must send, send our prayers up 
to Heaven's glorious Throne, to the listening ear of the 
everlasting God, and send our means, to aid those who 
do go, in carrying on this great work . The women 
and the children in all heathen lands need help, 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. Ill 

they need lifting up, they need love, they need 
a share in the blessings of a Christian home. In 
Christian lands the joys of home "are passing 
lovely;" but what can a home be in a heathen land 
where woman is well-nigh or quite a slave, where she 
knows no Saviour whom she can love, can lean on, no 
strong arm to hold her up? We must send, send to 
such as these, the means of help. Two of our three 
and thirty schools report nine dollars each, one reports 
sixteen dollars, and one seventeen dollars, the past 
year for missionary work; but most of our schools 
report nothing. Let me urge every school and every 
member of every school to do something this coming 
year in sending the blessings which we enjoy to some 
far-off land in Asia or in Africa, or to some island of 
the sea. 

Through our various church organizations we can send 
direct to missionaries in heathen lands, and let us not 
be content, while we enjoy and women and children 
suffer, unless we do something to lift them up. One 
penny apiece, or one nickel or dime apiece we each 
might send; and the good for suffering humanity, for 
improving, were it only the earthly condition, the 
home life condition, of women and children in heathen 
lands, saying nothing of the men, only eternity could 
tell. Let me then again urge each school, through some 
channel of missionary work, to do something this 
coming year, in behalf of and for the Lord of the vine- 
yard, the Lord of the harvest, in sending the knowledge 
of his name into some dark and distant realm of earth. 
For the time is coming when it will be found to have 
been the noblest of all work to do something for the 
cause of Christ. 

" Give me a motive," said once a young and enthu- 
siastic girl, to a minister of Christ; "give me a motive 



112 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

and I can do anything." Well,, motives are various; 
but if a girl here would be somewhere long and lovingly 
remembered and praised, she need not, it is true, follow 
the footsteps of Annie Turner Morgan to India, she 
need not go herself to a foreign land, but she must see 
that her loving deeds will cause her name to be written 
under the name of that loving woman who brought her 
u alabaster box of very precious ointment," and poured 
all that ointment out upon the person of her Lord. 



Nineteenth Anniversary, 1884: 

Reported: " In all 33 schools, 2,029 scholars, 284 
teachers . " Children enumerated for the public schools, 
5,530. " Three recitations were given by young ladies: 
' This shall be ImmanuePs Land ' by Miss Minnie Chap- 
man, of Sheffield school; ( The Great Famine Cry' by 
Miss Alice George, of South East Grove; and the ' Two 
Banners ' by Miss Bertha Edgerton, of Creston. The 
little children of the various infant classes, gathering 
in one band, joined in singing ' What a friend we have 
in Jesus/ and then united in the Lord's Prayer. It was 
beautiful to see that large band of little children from 
different parts of the county, the voices of so many of 
whom had never united in song and prayer before." 



The Twenty-first Anniversary was held at Lowell, 
August 25, 18&6: 

The Lowell schools had arranged seats and provided 
a convenient stand for the officers, and an organ plat- 
form for the singers and children, in a pleasant grove 
near the town; the weather was very favorable for a 
public gathering, and the exercises of the day, lasting 
from 10 a. m. to 4 p. m., seemed to be more than usually 
interesting. The printed programmes distributed in 
the morning stated the objects of our annual celebra- 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 113 

tions to be the following: " 1. To keep up our 
acquaintance with each other, and to form new acquaint- 
ances, as fellow- workers in a great and good cause. 
2. To learn the welfare and progress of all our schools 
and encourage and aid each other in this work. 3. To 
make an impression; to create and increase general 
interest in this cause." These objects have been kept 
quite steadily in view for some thirty years, and have 
made our August gatherings different in character from 
the "conventions" of many counties of our State. 
The four things to which we give prominence are: to 
secure as large an attendance as practicable of indi- 
vidual schools with the children and their banners; sing- 
ing by the individual schools of their favorite pieces; a 
full report of all the schools as furnished by the secre- 
tary of each school; and the social basket dinner in the 
grove, to which about two hours is devoted. 

The morning exercises were: A song of welcome by 
the Lowell schools, devotional exercises, an address of 
welcome and response, singing by all the schools, sing- 
ing by the Lowell Union school, the Lake Home school, 
the Hammond, the Cedar Lake Union, the Lowell M. 
E., and reports from all the schools. 

In the afternoon there was singing by various 
schools, there were devotional exercises, an address by 
the Kev. E. S. Miller, of Crown Point, on the prepara- 
tion of teachers for their work; a recitation by little 
Dora Hogue, of Hammond, three years of age, 
"Grandpa's Spectacles;" also recitations by Arthur 
Pattee, of Lowell, "The Burial of Moses;" by Lucy 
May Cutler, of Cedar Lake, "The Blind Man;" by 
Miss Allie Dumond, of Lowell, "Oh, why should the 
spirit of mortals be proud;" also, "Three little chil- 
dren," by Julia and Edna Michael and Emma Little; 
" Papa's Letter," by Kittie Gerrish; a song by the chil- 



114 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 



dren of Lake Prairie school, " Singing as we journey;" 
Psalms 121 and 122 by all the schools; the Beatitudes 
by the little children, after which they joined in sing- 
ing No. 282 (x. H., and united their voices in the Lord's 
Prayer. Brief addresses then followed, officers were 
elected, institutes were arranged to be held at Merrill- 
ville in October, at Hobart in January, at Orchard 
Grove in April, and at Creston in June. 

The following is a tabular view of the Secretary's 
report as read at the anniversary with corrections in 
fifth column. 



Name of Schools. 



Lake Home 

Hobart M. E 

Hobart Ger. M. E 

Hobart Congregational . . . 
Ainsworth k ' 

Ross Band 

Butler Union 

Merrill ville M. E 

Vincent M. E 

Crown Point F. M 

Crown Point, Ger. M. E . . . . 

Crown Point Ev. Ger 

North Street Baptist 

Crown Point Presbyterian. 

Crown Point M. E 

Le Roy Union — 

Plum Grove Union 

Orchard Grove M. E 

Lowell M. E 

Lowell Union 

West Creek M. E 

Lake Prairie Presbyterian. , 

Cedar Lake Union 

Cedar Lake Ger. M. E 

Dyer Union 

Hammond M. E 



Totals -.50 



CO 






5~ 










8 


ifi 




§ 


S3 

S 


bH 




» 




g 


^ 


e 


M 








Ca 


s~ 


a 


e 




=3 




q?, 


8h 


P 


O 




^ 


8 


60 


40 


12 


75 


50 


10 


46 


35 


8 


40 


25 


6 


50 


35 


6 


40 


30 


6 


40 


30 


10 


75 


62 


7 


30 


25 


8 


50 


30 


11 


27 


20 


8 


25 


20 


3 


20 


10 


16 


105 


48 


21 


126 


1C0 


8 


80 


75 


6 


55 


45 


5 


50 


30 


12 


80 


60 


15 


140 


80 


7 


31 


27 


7 


60 


30 


11 


45 


30 


14 


65 


60 


6 


40 


30 


19 


242 


138 


C50 


1700 


1165 ■% 




1165 28 114 CO 17 08 505 00 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 115 

Of the twenty-six schools all use the International 
series of lessons ; two, the Crown Point Presbyterian 
and the Lowell M. E., report teachers' meetings held; 
and two, the Lake Home and Hammond schools, report 
" house to house visitation." 

Some changes were made in the county officers. 
The President, J. L. Worley, who has neld the office 
nine years, declining another re-election, A. A. Wins- 
low, editor of the Hammond Tribune, was elected 
President; Cyrus Dickinson, Vice-president, and the 
other officers were re-elected. 

The following ministers were present and took some 
part in the exercises: J. F. Smith, H. Wason, J. 
Bruce, W. H. Broomfield, E. A. Schell, S. Hathron, E. 
S . Miller, M. F. Stright, of Hebron, and the Christian 
pastor at Lowell. 



Twenty-second Anniversary at Lake Station, with 
the Lake Home school, August 31, 1887: 

" The grove in which the schools assembled is a very 
fine one for such a gathering, only that it was too near 
the railroad. As was expected, the Lake Home school 
had made excellent preparations, and had seated the 
platform better than was ever before done. 

The morning exercises were: Song of welcome by 
the Lake Home school; prayer; singing by all the 
schools, No. 14 G-. H.; address of welcome; singing by 
the Hammond school; address by J. B. Hawkins, Presi- 
dent of Porter County Union; address by Eev. S. P. 
Edmondson, of Hammond; singing by the Hobart 
Methodist Episcopal school; secretary's report, and sing- 
ing by Dyer school and Lake Home school. 

A collection was then taken, amounting to $5.52, and 
the usual basket dinner followed. 

The afternoon exercises were more varied, and as 



116 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

there was one not on the programme that quite over- 
whelmed the secretary with surprise he will hope to be 
excused for not presenting an orderly record. After 
singing by all the schools No. 391 G-. H., psalms 23 and 
24 were recited in concert; there was singing by the 
Hurlburt and Merrillville schools; a reading by Miss 
Lillie Davis, of Dyer school; recitations by Mabel Sydel, 
Maggie Burt, Kitty Fabian, Orpha Eastwood, and Nellie 
Patterson, of Lake Home school, and a Scripture recita- 
tion by the Dyer school was to follow. But about this 
time Superintendent Davis, of Dyer, came upon the 
platform and began an address to the secretary, with a 
large morocco pocket-book in his hand. His words 
were surely appropriate and well chosen, but the aston- 
ished secretary could hardly comprehend their meaning. 
Yet when the pocket-book changed hands and he felt 
its weight, he soon took in the situation, and then 
returned thanks as best he could, holding such a testi- 
monial of the appreciation of his services by the schools 
of his county. As will be seen elsewhere, the amount of 
the "testimonial" was nearly $60, a surprise as great 
and complete to the secretary of Lake county, in office 
nineteen years, as was the one to President Levering at 
Lafayette, and of which he had no warning. 

As might be expected, the interest in the exercises 
was not diminished by the suddenness and complete- 
ness of the "surprise and capture "of the secretary, 
and a recitation followed by Miss Emily Haywood, of 
Merrillville; a solo by Henrietta Peck, of the Hurlburt 
school; recitations by Eva Page, May Gordon, and Lulu 
Mitchell, of Hobart; Infant class exercises, Scrij^ture 
recitation, singing 282, and the Lord's Prayer; singing 
in which the Lowell Union school was represented; 
election of officers, appointment of institutes, place for 
next anniversary selected, closing with psalm 133 and 



THE SUKDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 117 

benediction. Thanks were voted to the Chicago & 
Atlantic road for their proffered courtesies, and to the 
people of Lake Station for their great kindness." 

Reported for 1887: Schools, 35; using Int. lessons, 
34; officers and teachers, 295; number of scholars, 1,901; 
average attendance, 1,413; received into church, 118; 
amount for missions, $165.11; expended for schools, 
$453.28. 

The report for 1888 contained the following: " Edith 
V. Halsted, born August 8, 1877, the only daughter of 
Mr. and Mrs. T. H. Halsted, of Lowell, Lake county, 
Indiana, died Monday, May 7, 1888. She was a mem- 
ber of one of the Lowell Sunday schools; was a bright, 
active, gentle, affectionate child, and when she went up 
to Paradise much of the light of earthly love departed 
from her home. An only brother, some two years 
older than herself, is left to walk the paths of life with- 
out the help of a gentle sister's life and love. 

From one of the Hobart schools also death has 
removed a choice little child. Hattie E. Ford, nearly 
nine years of age, daughter of Brother and Sister Ford, 
a sweet little singer, intelligent and interesting as a 
child, dearly beloved and cherished as a daughter and a 
sister, died at her home in Hobart on Monday, May 21, 
1888. God's ways are not as our ways; His purposes and 
plans are far beyond our plans." 

From report for 1889: 

" Death has been among our schools since we met at 
Hobart. Miss Lois Foote, an estimable young lady, a 
teacher in the Lowell Union school, died at her home in 
Lowell October 7, 1888. 

"A sad accident has removed from the Shelby Union 
school and from this life one of our most active, manly 
boys. John Oriss Lange was born May 19, 1871. On 
Thursday, October 25th, he was driving the horses where 



118 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

some neighbors were pressing hay. A trace broke, he was 
struck by a whipple-tree, and died on Saturday morning, 
October 27, 1888." 

The report also contained a notice of the death in 
Oak Grove of the Superintendent there, Mrs. Mary 
Kesiah Hill, on Tuesday morning, May 28, 1889. 

"One school, the Hurlburt Union, now the largest 
country school in Lake county, besides other convey- 
ances, came with two four-horse teams; and in one of 
these large wagons were fifty-eight children. It does 
not take many schools like this one to bring together a 
thousand children." This school reported for school 
expenses of 1889, $92.00; the Hammond M. E. school, 
the largest in the county, reporting 199 scholars, 
reported for expenses $104.16. 

From report of 1890: 

Officers, 160; teachers, 230; scholars, 2,180; aver- 
age attendance, 1,345; received into church, 24; con- 
tributed for foreign missions, $129: Sunday school 
mission, $20.20; expended for schools, $690.79; church 
members under 15 years of age, 55; scholars under 15 
years of age, 999 . 

Sunday-school institutes have been held by the 
county Secretary, aided by others, at the Butler school; 
at Eoss, Merrillville, and Hammond; at Hobart, Lake 
Station, and the Hurlburt Corners; at LeRoy, Eagle 
Creek, and Plum Grove; at Orchard Grove, South East 
Grove, and at Lowell; at Pine Grove, Creston, arid at 
Crown Point. Institutes have been held by others, espe- 
cially by W. H. Levering and Eev. L. L. Carpenter, at 
Lowell; W.H. Levering, at Hammond, and by some visit- 
ors at Crown Point. Some of these were denominational. 

All of these institutes have been interesting; surely 
all profitable. Some have been of special interest; but 
these on this day we can not review. We are here now 
in the present. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 119 

One of the papers specially prepared for this anni- 
versary of 1890 was the following address by the Secre- 
tary, T. H. Ball. 

SOWERS AXD REAPERS. 
" One soweth and another reapeth. 1 ' 

These words, spoken by our Saviour to his disciples 
beside Jacob's well in Samaria, where he had been rest- 
ing in the noon-tide hour, seem to be an old Jewish 
proverb. They had been true many times before, 
according to Jewish observation; they have been true 
many times since. Who knows in the time of seeding 
when the wheat, the rye, the barley, the oats, are care- 
fully buried in the prepared soil — who knows how 
many of those that did the sowing will be in the field 
in the time of harvest? Some may have gone, to other 
homes, to other lands, or to another world. We do 
not know in sowing time who will live to see the reap- 
ing. But what matters it, if the main thing is having 
ripened grain to gather? Some one will see that the 
golden grain is safe within the barn. 

A youth has been toiling diligently in the time of 
seeding in the great grain field. He has worked faith- 
fully. Kobly along with his father and his brothers has 
he done his part in preparing the soil and in putting 
in the seed. That season passes and another comes. 
But while the rain and the sunshine are doing their 
work, and the wheat is already promising a yield of 
thirty or of sixty-fold, and there is now no more work 
to be done in the field, the vigorous form of that young 
husbandman is lying in his father's home with the 
typhoid fever rapidly consuming his young life. He 
looks out from his window upon that field of grain and 
he says: " Oh mother! I wish I could live and do that 
harvesting. I wish I could take my seat next month 
upon the reaper. I wish I could help to put the bun- 



120 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

dies in the shock. I wish I could measure the grain 
from the thresher." And the mother says, "Best 
satisfied, my son, you have done your part. It was 
much, very much to do all that sowing. If no sowing 
there could be next month no harvest. That was an 
important part of the work to be done in securing a 
barn full of grain. God thinks that you have done 
enough . Eest satisfied, and let others do the reaping. 
The grain will be safe. The harvest is now quite sure. 
We shall not forget your part of the work when the 
bushels are all counted." 

Saying nothing, now, of the mere enjoyment of 
earthly life, saying nothing of social enjoyment, having 
present with us those whom we love, if the main thing 
is having' ripened grain to gather, then should not that 
mother's words have been sufficient comfort for her son? 
And if so in literal sowing and reaping, how much more 
in the spiritual realm of work? "One soweth and 
another reapeth" said the great Teacher. "I have 
chosen you and ordained you," he said to his first dis- 
ciples, "that ye should go and bring forth fruit." "All 
power is given unto me in heaven and in earth, G-o ye, 
therefore, and teach all nations;" "He that reapeth 
receive th wages and gathereth fruit unto life eternal ; 
that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may 
rejoice together." If bringing forth fruit, if teaching, 
if sowing, is a great part of a Christian's work on 
earth, then how fitting as well as beautiful are those 
words of a modern poet, 

" Sow good— and tend it with steadfast care — 
And beyond all dreams shall the fruit be fair ; 
What matter — you helped the fruit to bring — 
If you fall asleep ere the harvesting ? " 

Bye and bye, yes, bye and bye, the sowers and reap- 
ers will together rejoice. He who taught that certainly 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 121 

knew full well those older words, " They that sow in 
tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weep- 
eth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again 
with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." 

While this day we ought surely to remember our 
early sowers, we need not, then, lament their depart- 
ure. Their work was well done. Their joy is sure. 
Some of their names have been sounded in our ears to- 
day; although in regard to most of us their names bring 
not back the aspect of their living forms. Another 
generation has already taken their places. And to 
you, who have no remembrance of our earliest work- 
ers, let the Saviour's words sink to-day into your 
hearts, " Other men labored, and ye are entered into 
their labors." Long have the voices been silent of 
Norman Warriner and J. 0. Brown; of Thomas L. 
Hunt and Philip Reed; of George W. Taylor and 
Charles Barton; of William Townley and Major All- 
man; of George Woodbridge and William Forbes; of 
Alexander Hastings and Daniel Orumpacker; of Rob- 
ert Hyde and of R. B. Young. And these are only a 
part of those that years ago preached the word of God 
among us. The superintendents, the teachers, the active 
workers in our schools for these fifty years, no one now 
living can name them all. Truly, some are sent to reap 
that whereon they bestowed no labor. Into the labors 
of others most of this generation have entered. 
Brothers and sisters, somebody sowed where you now 
reap. And in these fifty years have many fallen asleep. 
They are resting from their labors, and their works 
will follow them. They sleep in death to wake in 
glory. Some of us remain who were children in the 
earliest schools. But on our heads the hair is gray. 
The young are almost crowding us aside, and soon we 
shall cease to sow. Said that same poet, E. Nesbit, 
who combines so well truth and beauty: 



122 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

" Youth will be, though our youth go by; 
Life will last, though our life be done; 
Love will live, though our love should die; 
And the strife go on, though our rest be won." 

Let us who are soon to pass away be content in hav- 
ing done the sowing. Let us be glad that our eyes may 
see the coming of the reapers. For we can not forget 
that by and by, when the full harvest of the earth is 
ripe, that then, not others younger and fresher than 
ourselves, bat the strong angels, the great angels of God, 
will be the reapers. As some used to sing: 

" Sow in the morn thy seed; 
At eve hold not thy hand; 
To doubt and fear give thou no heed; 
Broadcast it o'er the land. 

Beside all waters sow; 

The highway furrows stock; 
Drop it where thorns and thistles grow; 

Scatter it on the rock. 

And duly shall appear, 

In verdure, beauty, strength, 
The tender blade, the stalk, the ear, 

And the full corn at length. 

Thou canst not toil in vain; 

Cold, heat, and moist, and dry, 
Shall foster and mature the grain 

For garners in the sky. 

Thence, when the glorious end, 

The day of God, shall come, 
The angel reapers shall descend, 

And Heaven shout, ' Harvest home ! ' " 

Following this address was a song given by fifty 
young girls, each wearing a badge on which was printed, 
"Lake Co. S. Schools. 50 Years. 1890;" and each 
ten having a banner, these bearing the dates 1840, 1850, 
1860, 1870, 1880, 1890. The girls, during the address, 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 123 

had been seated in chairs at the south of the speakers' 
platform, in a beautiful semicircle, or, rather, in a semi- 
circle of beauty. 

The other badges worn that day had printed on 
them "L. 0. S. S. XL, 25th Anniversary, 1890." 

(From these two sets of badges comes the form of 
the opening sentence of this book.) 

GIRLS' SONG— OH, WHERE ARE THE SOWERS ? 



WKITTEN BY T. H. B., FOE THE LAKE COUNTY SUNDAY 
SCHOOL SEMI-CENTENNIAL. 

Oh, where are the sowers who sowed good seed ? 
Who helped both the sheep and the lambs to feed ? 
Who watched and who prayed in these fifty years; 
Who went forth to sow, and oft sowed in tears ? 

Chorus. 
Where are the sowers? Oh who can tell 
The joy and the life where they now safely dwell? 
The sowers have gone to dwell in light, 
Where comes no discord and falls no night. 

Both sowers and shepherds these toilers were; 
They loved Zion's ways, and they prayed for her; 
Much had they to do, there were wolves not few; 
They knew with the wheat that tares also grew. 



These sowers and shepherds were fishers true; 
They drew in the fish from the waters blue; 
The long Gospel net they knew how to spread, 
Where the waters were deep in the dark sea bed. 



Chorus. 



Chorus. 



Yes, sowers and shepherds and fishers, too; 
Not light was the work which they had to do; 
They did their work well and went home to rest, 
And now evermore they dwell with the blest. 

Chorus. 

The words of the song pass away into the August 

sunshine, and up into that deep blue that is above us. 



124 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

There is not even an echo left, only in human hearts, 

of the last words that came from the lips of childhood. 

" The sowers have gone to dwell in light, 
Where comes no discord and falls no night." 

The white-robed girls are no longer grouped before 
the Fair Ground Platform. The sun of this long 
August day has passed the midday hour. And so we 
close here our listening attitude as in the presence of 
that large assembly. And the further gathered facts in 
this book we examine in our own peaceful homes where 
earth's night will surely come. 




ADDENDA. 

In 1873 twenty-seven schools were reported. 
Among them were two only in North Township, Hess- 
ville and Sand Ridge, the latter reported as Episco- 
palian. 

In West Creek were three as reported: the West 
Creek M. E., Mrs. Bonhanr's, and the Livingston 
school. 

The Prairie View and Orchard Grove schools were 
reported as having been kept open all the past winter. 

The total school membership as reported that 
year was, according to townships, North, 50; Hobart, 
75; Calumet was not; Ross, 212; Winfield, 140; Cen- 
ter, 230; Hanover, 50; West Creek, 85; Cedar Creek, 
205; Eagle Creek, 125; total 1,162. 

ABSTRACTS OF SOME REPORTS. 

From the individual school reports now on file: 

The eleventh annual report was made August 29, 
1877. 

The journal for that year said: " April 22d, organ- 
ized the Pleasant Hill Sabbath school. Superintendent, 
W. Mikel; Assistant Superintendent, Mrs. Ferree; 
Secretary, Miss M. Collins; Treasurer, Miss A. Patton; 
Librarian, Miss Collins; Teachers, Mrs. Blowers, Mrs. 
Ferree, Mrs. Collins, W. Mikel." 

Thirty-nine schools are named in the report, but 
three as being not then in session. 

Among these the Whiting school is mentioned as hav- 
ing been organized in 1877 with sixty members, and the 
report says: " During the past year an unusual religious 
interest has spread over much of our county." 

125 



126 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OP LAKE. 

The name following each school name in this abstract 
is that of the superintendent. The Eoss " Union 
Band," E. M. Kronkright, reports members 25; con- 
versions, 5; Merrillville, Mrs. M. J. Hyde, 57, 13; 
German M. E., Crown Point, Daniel Behrens, 24; 
Emanuel, Frank Basel, 25; Crown Point M. E., J. 
Houk, 125; infant class, 40; under twenty-one years of 
age, 80; Sec. Daniel Krinbill; Crown Point Baptist, J. 
H. Abrams, 80, 14, Sec. Hattie Austin; North Street 
Baptist, T. H. Ball, 35, infant class 20, under twenty- 
one 34; Crown Point Presbyterian, Charles F. Griffin, 
80, conversions 15, Sec. Mellie Vilmer; " Union," G. 
Handley, 60, conversions 25, Sec. Lewis Dresser; School 
Grove, George Aver ill, 44; Pleasant Prairie, G. W. 
Chapman, G. Williams, 30, 6; Pleasant Hill, Mr. Bacon, 
30, Sec. Bell Collins; S. E. Grove, H. Boyd, 40, 9, Sec. 
Mat Brown; Center, Jerome Temple, 30, 14, Sec. W. 
Turner; Robinson's Prairie, H. B. Wood, 43, 2, Sec. 
Mary B. Wood; Plum Grove, Mrs. M. J. Dinwiddie, 87, 
4, under twenty-one 70, Sec. Aaron McCann; Lowell, 
Alonzo Martin, 90, 16, 70; Lowell Union, Rev. J. 
Bruce, 90, 3, 79; Lowell Christian, H. Dickinson, 
41; Pine Grove, S. R. Tarr, 48, 3, 45, Sec. E. W. 
Booth, number of verses recited 2,400; Lake Prairie, T. 
A. Wason, 65, under twenty-one 45; Cedar Lake Union, 
Victor Gear, 40; Ewen, Mrs. Ewen, 30; Oak Ridge, 
James Woodberry, 30, 5, 20, Sec. Henry G. Klinefelter; 
Hammond, W. H. Goodman, 23, children in infant 
class 11, under twenty-one 18, Sec. J. B. Smith, teacher 
of infant class Miss Alice Sohl. It appears from the 
above, which are all from the official reports now on file, 
that the largest school in Lake county now was the 
smallest in 1877; and that the infant class, having 
the same teacher now, has increased from eleven mem- 
bers to one hundred and forty-seven. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 127 

As the names of the infant class teachers were nearly 
all given in the reports for this year, it may be a mat- 
ter of interest to have them recorded here. The names 
are in the order of the schools as given above. The 
figures annexed are the number in each class: 

Miss 0. E. Hayward, 10; Mrs. G. Morgan, 12; Miss 

Philopene Rittmuller, 8, 10; Mrs. Griggs, 40; Miss 

Addie Ferguson, 25; Mrs. M. 0. 0. Ball, 20; Miss 
Mamie Turner, 15; Miss Albertha Mann, 10; Mrs. 0. 
Chapman, 9; A. Bacon, 5; Mrs. Blowers, Miss Mary 
Patten, 16, no infant class, Miss Rhoda Antrim, 
11; Mrs. M. J. Dinwiddie, 11, Mrs. M. N. Din- 
widdie, 12, 23; Mrs. Emma Grogg, 20; Miss Alta 
Fry, 10; Mrs. Jane Sanger, 12; Mrs. Olive Booth, 12; 
Miss Mia L. Wason, 11; Mrs. Anna Taylor, 8; Miss F. 
Reed, 17; Charles Vincent, 9; Miss Alice Sohl, 11; 
321. The reports for 1883 and 1884, besides the other 
usual particulars, gave the number in the girls' classes 
and the number in the boys' classes. In combining 
these reports in this abstract, the numbers are for 1883, 
and are for whole number, for girls' classes, and for 
boys' classes. Crown Point Ev. Ger., C. Weis, 30, 12, 7; 
Crown Point German M. E., J. Knoedler, 31, 10, 10; 
Crown Point F. M., S. C. Spaulding, Sec. Ruby Under- 
wood, Supt. 1884 Mrs. F. Fessenden, 38, 8, 4; Crown 
Point Baptist, J. H. Abrams, Supt. 1884 Rev. L. A. 
Clevenger, Miss Mabel Northrup Sec. 30, 12, 10; C. P. 
Pres., C. F. Griffin, 120, 17, 17, Sec. Jules Jouvenot, 
1884 Miss May Northrup; C. P. M. E., W. S. Babbitt, 
1884 Jacob Houk, 119, 33, 18, Sec. Mrs. C. L. Inger- 
soll; North Street Baptist 1884, T. H. Ball, Sec. Miss 
Georgie E. Ball, 30, 10, 8; Red Cedar, Marshall Nich- 
ols, Sec. Willie Haan, 1884 Mrs. Hill, Sec. Miss R. 
Brown, 32, 6, 8; Cedar Lake Union, M. Nichols, 60, 15, 
]5; Ceder Lake Ger. M. E., Charles Sauter, 1884 F. L. 



128 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

Sunderman, 70, 32, 38, Sec. Miss Louisa Mondernach; 
Lake Prairie, Rev. H. Wason, 1884 L. G. Little, 80, 10, 10; 
Pine Grove, J. A. Little, 1884 W. H. Bradley, Sec. Mrs. 
Delia Burhans; Oak Grove, H. W. Dodd, Sec. 0. Cush- 
man, 12, 6, 3; Egypt Union, Ellis Cross, Sec. Win. 
Dickinson, 60, 6, 9; Lowell Union, C. F. Dickinson, 
Sec. Miss Lois Foote, 70, 10, 12; Lowell M. E., J. W. 
Viant, 1884 0. E. Chaffee, Sec. Mrs. R. A. Haskin 
1884, 70, 20, 20; Orchard Grove M. E., G. W\ Handley, 
56, 15, 8, Sec. 1884 Miss Olive J. Kenney, 1883 Miss 
Effie Kenney; Plum Grove, Martin Nichols, Sec. Ellis 
Shoup, 100, 16, 6 (August 19, 1883, 70 present); Cen- 
ter, J. M. Temple, Sec. M. J. Brown, 34, 0, 7; S. E. 
Grove, H. Boyd, Sec. Miss Amy Crawford, 1884 Miss 
May Doak, 52, 5, 5; Handley Union, 1884 S. Gehr, 
Sec. W. Skinner, 25, 7, 7; Winfield, 1884, J. P. Bald- 
win, Sec. Miss Eda Williams, 28, 10, 9; Deer Creek 
M. E., G. Handley, 30, 12, 0; Hurlburt Union, John 
L. Riecker, 1884 Michael Wahl, 60, 10, 6, Sec. M. C. 
Riecker, 1884 Miss Lena Wahl; Hickory Top Union, 
R. A. Castle, 50, 15, 12, in 1884 called Ainsworth, 1884 

E. Harper, Sec; Merrillville M. E., Mrs. M. J. Hyde, 
1884 M. Pierce, 55, 6, 6, Sec. Mrs. C. L. Merrill;— a 
revival seems to have come, for in 1884 the members 
were 72, 24, 8; — Butler Union, A. T. Davis, Sec. Miss 
Lillie Davis, 40, 8, 7, in 1884 Mrs. Mary E. Nicholson, 
Sec. Frank Paine; Dyer Union, Mrs. Biggs, 1884 George 
Davis, 40, 6, 2, Sec. Miss Lillie Davis in 1884, num- 
bers 45, 18, 16; Ross Band, Alfred Hayward, 35, 5, 5, 
Sec. Leroy Holmes, 1884 Supt. John Muzzall; Hobart 
Ger. M. E., F. Hamann, Sec. Jacob Lutz, 1884, 

F. F, Frank, 40, 5, 9; Hobart Christian Association, W. 
Ballantyne, Sec. Alice Cowlin, 57, 32, 15; Hobart M. 
E., Mrs. M. Higgins, 116, 25, 20, Sec. W. W. Trues- 
dell, 1884 Sec. H. C. Hanson; Lake Home, Mrs. T. E. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 129 

Lincoln, 40, 15, 8, Sec. E. E. Willis, in 1884, 112, 24, 
27; Hammond M. E., A. A. Winslow, 130, 42, 11, in 
infant class 65; Sec. A. T. Robinson, numbers in 1884, 
200, 70, 37, infant class 75, Sec. Miss Rettie E. Kirk- 

patrick; Hammond Ger. M. E., Emiel K , 30, 16, 

14. A note appended says, " Mostly members also of 
the American Hammond M. E. school. Some of the 
girls good singers." 1884 Supt. Ered Mahlee, 20 then 
reported, 5 attending also the other school; Sheffield, 
1884 Miss Minnie Chapman, 28, 8, 9, infant class 11, 
Sec. Miss Amelia Kreuter; Clarke, Mrs. Hoyt, 12, 4, 8. 
A note says, "A winter school. Mrs. Hoyt, a Congre- 
gationalist from Morris, 111., spending her winters in 
Lake and the wife of the station agent, a Baptist, Mrs. 
Cole, carry on this school. No American families, or 
very few, around Clarke." Total of the above mem- 
bers, whole number 1844, girls 452, boys 345. In 
infant classes 450. 

In 1885 James Pinkerton and C. E. Chaffee were 
Superintendents at Lowell, A. A. Winslow at Ham- 
mond; J. Muzzall at Ross, W. H. Bradley at West 
Creek, and Louis Locker at the Cedar Lake German 
school. 



Erom report of 1888: 

" We held institutes the last year at the Hurlburt 
school house, at Ross, at Hammond, at Le Roy, and at 
Lowell. All of these were interesting and profitable. 
At Hammond we had the presence and help of B. E. 
Jacobs, of Chicago, for one evening. At Hurlburt, 
Ross, and Lowell rich basket dinners were furnished, 
and a bountiful vestry supper at Hammond. At Le 
Roy the families entertained at their homes." 



It was the privilege of the Lake county secretary to 
be one of the Indiana delegates to the International S. 



130 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

S. Convention in 1884 and in 1887. At Louisville he 
took the responsibility of pledging twenty-five dollars 
from Lake county to the International fund, the dele- 
gate of one other county only in Indiana, Eush county, 
doing the same. The following is the receipt from the 
treasurer showing that Lake county enabled the secre- 
tary to make good that pledge : 

" Chicago, June 1, 1887. Received from Rev. T, 
H. Ball twenty-five dollars, being for subscription to 
International S. S. Convention by Lake county, Indi- 
ana, made at Louisville, Ky., 1884. 

L. H. Biglow, 
$25. Treas. In. S. S. Con." 

This money had been saved out from the annual 
county collections of 1884, 1885, and 1886. Secretary. 



This journal was kept in quite an abbreviated form 
and is given here, for the most part, as originally 
written. Some of its statements may correct inaccura- 
cies that have come from personal recollections, and 
some new particulars will appear which it is hoped are 
worthy of preservation in these school records. From 
September 3, 1871, to August 25, 1872. 

September 3. Visited Presbyterian school at Crown 
Point; present, 75. 

September 24. Prairie View; one large Bible class; 
few children out on account of sickness. 

October 15. S. E. Grove. Found that little Mary 
Sprague had lately died. 

October 22. Lake Prairie; 40. Few children. Na- 
tional series of lessons. 

May 5. 1872. Organized a school at Pleasant Prairie. 
Superintendent, J. Patten; Assistant, Mrs. Williams; 
Secretary, G-. Wise. Teachers: J. P. Baldwin, Mrs. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 131 

Baldwin, Miss Wise. Hour, 3 o'clock. Also, May 5, 
S. E. Grove and Deer Creek were re-opened. 

May 14. Hickory Top school. Present, 40. A good 
library. Take several copies of papers. Brother Hines, 
pastor. 

May 26. S. E. Grove. Fair attendance. Lesson in 
the Gospel by John. Consecutive Union Question 
books. Union school. Evening. Attended Pres. S. S. 
concert. T. J. Turner addressed the school. 

June 23, Bryant's school house, 3 p. m. Present, 50. 
Nearly all young. Have different lessons. Quiet and 
attentive. 

June 30, Cedar Lake. Present, 40. Using Union 
Question Books. Lesson in John's Gospel. Library 
volumes, 150. 

Jones' school house. Present, 40. 2 p. m., Robin- 
son's Prairie, 30 . Good voices and cultivated in singing. 

July 14. 9 a. m., Deer Creek. A very hot morning. 
Number about 40. Lesson in John, 6. School sing — 
Several girls. Not many small boys. Quiet and atten- 
tive to the exercises. 

Hurlburt's school house, 10-J- a. m., O. Peck, Supt. 
Present, 36. Union S. S., 1867. Whole number, 50. 

Pleasant Prairie, 3 p. m. Present, 50. Seven 
classes. Supt., J. Patten. Use f 'Fresh Laurels." 

July. 21. At South East Grove. Small school. 
Morning wet. 3 P. M., Bryant's school house. An 
excellent class of young men, attentive and thoughtful. 
A small library of about 75 volumes. [School at Vin- 
cents. Members, 60. Not visited.] 

July 28, Lake Station. Present, 18, but the school 
numbers 25. Supt., — Pelham. Children quite atten- 
tive. 

12 m., Hobart. Whole number, 62. Officers, 10. 

Ensign S. S. Close by |county line. Members, 25. 
Met at 11 a. m., August 4. 



132 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

Centerville S. S. (now Merrill ville), 9:30 a. m. Four 
classes. Solicited their attendance at the anniversary. 
10:30 o'clock, at Adams school house. Present, 26. 
Classes, 4. Number, 40. Sup't, E. Randolph. Re- 
peated verses commencing with the letter J. 

1 o'clock, Underwood school house. Whole num- 
ber, 60. Present, 45. 

3:30 or 4 o'clock, at Pleasant Prairie. Present, 60. 

Aug. 11. 9 o'clock, M. E. school at Lowell. 50. 
Large infant class. 10:30 o'clock, Lake Prairie. 40. 

3. Buncombe, at Burhan's school house. Whole 
number, 30. Present, 23. . School recited during the 
season 2326 verses. 

Aug. 18. Eagle Creek. Rainy morning. School 
meets at 3 o'clock. Whole number, 25. E. M. Rob- 
ertson, Sup't. Good singing. 

Aug. 25. Visited Orchard Grove. Snp't, G. W. 
Handley. Present, about 30. Aug. 28. Convention. 

Another school year. 

Sept. 1, 1872. Visited the Jones school. A small 
attendance. Some good teachers. Use question books. 

Sept. 15. Visited school at South East Grove. 3 p.m., 
visited Bryant school. Good attendance. All young. 

Sept. 22. Visited M. E. school at Crown Point. 
The new pastor made some remarks. Number present, 
84. Election of officers for the year. Snp't elected, 
Andrew Krinbill. Sec, W. T. Horine. 

September 29. Visited Presbyterian school at Crown 
Point. No session on account of cold and storm. 

November 3. Visited Vincent school. Present, 
about 30. Adjourned until April. 

1873. April 27. Bryant school re-opened. 

May 4. Visited Presbyterian school . Present, 60. 
Using Westminster leaves. South East Grove to re-open 
to-day. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OP LAKE. 133 

May 25. At South East Grove. School prosper- 
ing. Union. Mr. Parkinson, Superintendent. 

June 1. Visited Methodist school at Deer Creek. 
Present, 50. Mr. Coffey, Superintendent. Use Berean 
Lesson Paper. 2:30 p. m., visited German Union 
school at Deer Creek. Number, 30. 3 o'clock, visited 
Pleasant Prairie school. Superintendent, Albert Bacon. 
Number, 60. Lesson in Luke. No lesson papers. 

June 8 . Visited the M. E. school at Lowell. Pres- 
ent, about 70. School increasing. Meets at 9:30 A. M. 
3 p. m., visited the Lowell Union school. Present, 
57. School lately re-opened. 

June 15. Visited the Jones school. 

June 22. At South East Grove in the morning. 
Subject came up of two anointings. 3:30 p. m., at 
Bryant's. Present, 49. The Superintendent says, "The 
object of the Sabbath school is to bring the scholars 
to Christ." 

July 6 Visited Orchard Grove, p. m., visited 
Eagle Creek. Good attendance. Several classes. 

July 13, 20, 27, August 17, records omitted. 
August 24. Vincent school, 9:30. Number, 52. 1 
o'clock, Underwood school. Number, 52. 50 papers. 
Library of 150 volumes. 3 p. m., Centerville school. 
Number present, 40. 

Saturday, 23. At Hobart. Number in school, 50. 

The journal for 1874 opens with that quotation from 
Rev. James Hamilton, which is on page two of this 
book, and the remark is added, Solomon's prayer, an 
example of right feeling. Visiting the schools was 
commenced May 10th. There are entries in the jour- 
nal for May 17, 24, 31, and the following for June 7. 
Visited Robinson Prairie school house. Conducted a 
Sunday-school exercise, Acts 1:1-12. Those present 
agreed to meet and endeavor to organize — re-organize it 



134 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

means — next Sunday, at 2 p. m. 5 o'clock, Center 
school arranged to meet next Sunday. 

June 14,3.30 p.m. Met with the Center school . 
School re-opened. Officers appointed: Supt. T. H. 
Ball; assistant, Mrs. L. V. Pearce; Secretary, Seth 
Pearce. 

June 21. Attended at the Center school. Lesson 
1, of Acts. 

And further record for that summer there is none. 
In the annual report made August, 1874, is found the 
following: "When the spring-time came and the 
schools were re-opened, I commenced my usual visits, 
but was prostrated by disease; left the county for eight 
weeks, and returned last Saturday evening." 

With that Center school the Convention was that 
year to meet, and did meet in South East Grove. 

Of that Robinson Prairie school the report from the 
Superintendent, F. A. Ewer, said, among other encour- 
aging things, " The school commenced "--was re-opened 
— -"on July 5th, 1874, with 15 members. During that 
month, the names on record increased to fifty-three." 
" * * there is an increasing interest shown in the 
school and a desire for its welfare and prosperity." 
" The heads of families take a lively and active part." 

Afew extracts are here recorded from journal of eight 
years later. Schools Visited, July 9, 1882. Free 
Methodist, Presbyterian, and M. E. schools, all at 
Crown Point. July 16. Baptist and Lutheran at Crown 
Point. 

July 23. Visited Lowell M. E. in the morning. 
2:30 p. m., Band of Hope. 4 o'clock, Lowell new 
Union school. 

July 30, 2:30 p. m. Visited school at Hammond. 

July 31. Visited Whiting. Obtained report from a 
man on Mud Lake. Got lost in the tall grass and un« 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 135 

dergrowtli south of Whiting. Walked about twenty 
miles. 

August 6. Visited school at Merrillville in the morn- 
ing. In the afternoon visited the Butler school. 

August 13. Visited South East Grove school in the 
morning. In the afternoon the LeRoy Union. Walked 
fifteen miles. 

August 20. Visited Orchard Grove in the morning. 
At 3 p. m., Plum Grove. Interesting schools and exer- 
cises. Plum Grove the large country school of Lake. 

August 27. Ten in the morning at the Cedar Lake 
school. Superintendent sick. Assistant Superinten- 
dent not present. 2:30 p. m., at Lake prairie. A 
New England like assembly. School prosperous. 

Another year. 1883. July 1. Visited M. E. school 
at Crown Point. As the next entry is peculiar I quote 
it entire. 

" July 8. Visited the Free Methodist at 9:30 A. m. 
A pleasant, earnest school. 12 m., visited the Presby- 
terian school. Ten classes. Both of these at Crown 
Point. At 2:30 p. m., visited the South Crown Point 
school. Small, earnest, interesting. Prayers. Tears. 
The most attractive for real work. There are those, 
even in Crown Point, for whose souls it would seem no 
man cares." 

July 15. Visited the Crown Point Baptist school. 

July 22. Visited the German M. E. school of Crown 
Point. A very pleasant school. 

July 29; Visited the Lowell Union, Lowell M. E., 
and Egypt Union schools. All prosperous. 

August 3 and 4. Walked twenty-five miles in get- 
ting reports at Clarke, Miller's Station, Lake and 
Hobart . 

August 5. Visited school at Hammond. 

August 12. Visited South East Grove and Center 



136 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

schools. Walked fifteen miles. Another record says: 
" Walked ten miles in getting reports. Have been in 
every township except St. John." 

Perhaps thus the schools were educated up to make 
out and to send reports. 

Note. Perhaps as editor I might say for the Secre- 
tary, what he would not like to say for himself, that 
since the dark-brown "Zella," so gentle, so trusty and 
true, so useful in aiding to do missionary work, was 
killed by a freight train, he has scarcely cared to keep 
a buggy and horse; and that for the last few years, as 
Secretary of the County Union, as President of the 22d 
District, as Missionary of the American Sunday School 
Union, he has walked from a thousand to fifteen hun- 
dred miles each year in the counties of Lake, Porter, 
and LaPorte, of Starke, and Jasper, and Newton. 



SCHOOL ENROLLMENTS. 

The following pages contain the names of the mem- 
bers of our schools for the year 1890. The date attached 
to each school name is the date, so far as known, of first' 
organization. The schools are given according to town- 
ships: 

WEST CREEK. 

LAKE PRAIRIE PRESBYTERIAN SCHOOL, 1857. 

Superintendent, L. G-. Little. 

Assistant superintendent, Rev. J. F. Smith. 

Secretary and Treasurer, Miss Sadie Morey. 

Bible Class, Rev. J. F. Smith, Teacher. 
Rev. H. Wason, W. H. Michael, 

Mrs. H. Wason, Mrs. W. H. Michael, 

Mrs. S. Dyer, L. G. Little, 

E. K Morey, Mrs. L. G. Little. 

E. Michael.— 9. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 



137 



Young People's Class, 
Maggie Michael, 
Cyrus Kettenring, 
Mrs. C. S. Kettenring, 
James Robinson, 
Willie Kobelin, 
Laura Kobelin, 
Anna Cover, 
Minnie Kobelin, 
Ella Rollins, 



Mrs. Smith, Teacher. 
John Avis, 
Maggie Sun derm an, 
Fred Sunderman, 
Axel Johnson, 
Bertha Maxwell, 
Abby Maxwell, 
James Little, 
Jesse Little, 
Henry Gerrish. — 18. 



2d Young People's Class, Mrs. 
Myra Little, 
Emma Livingston, 
Loren Michael, 
Sadie Morey, 



M. G. Little, Teacher, 
Lena Sunderman, 
Fred Einspahr, 
Ida Michael, 
Kittie G-errish. 



Hattie Fuller.— 9. 
Children's Class, Miss Ellen Little, Teacher. 



Julia Wason, 
Emma Little, 
Lena Sunderman, 
Kittie Robinson, 
Hannah Dahl, 
Frank Avis, 
Orville Edmonds, 
Melvin Robinson, 

Infant Class, Miss Nellie Morey, Teacher. 



Otto Dahl, 
William Morey, 
Will Einspahr, 
Ernest Livingston, 
John Kobelin, 
Frank Kobelin, 
Emma Dahl, 
Julia Michael.— 16. 



Edna Michael, 
Carrie Morey, 
Jessie Michael, 
Alice Livingston, 
Blanche Plumer, 
E. Louise Robinson, 
Gilbert Maxwell, 



Herbie Michael, 
Esther Dahl, 
Re ana Dahl, 
Bessie Burhans, 
May Burhans, 
Edith Burhans, 
Frank Robinson. 



■15. 



Total membership, 72. 



133 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

BRUCE UNION SCHOOL, 1888. 

Superintendent, Eev. J. Bruce. 

Secretary, Miss Myrtie Hayden. 

Bible Class, Rev. J. Bruce, teacher. 
William Sautter, Ella Stowell, 

Sarah Sautter, Cyrus Hayden, 

Emma Sautter, Caroline Hayden, 

Bertha Eudolph, John Timm, 

Johnnie Rudolph, William Hayden, 

Frank Rudolph, Maria Hayden, 

Annie Bruce, Vina Koplin, 

Nora Stowell, George Koplin. — 16. 

Children's Class, Miss Myrtie Hayden, teacher. 
Freddie Sautter, Lydia Rudolph, 

Thuel Hayden, Clifford Stowell, 

Jodie Hayden, Frankie Stowell. — 7. 

Edna Hayden, 

Total membership, 25. 

PINE GROVE UNION SCHOOL, 1883. 

Superintendent, L. G-. Little. 

Secretary and Treasurer, Miss Minnie Miller. 

Young People's Class, Rev. S. F. Smith, teacher. 
August Miller, Charley Pulver, 

Albert Maxwell, Will Spry, 

Bertha Maxwell, Mollie Spry. 

Fred Miller.— 7. 

Second Young People's Class, Mrs. Sanders, teacher. 
Lena Miller, Elsie Shirley, 

Willie Belshaw, Eunie Shirley. — 4. 

Girls' Class, Miss Bessie Spry, teacher. 
Mary Rosenbrook, Grace Pulver, 

Mary Bixermann, Anna Miller, 

Lula Pulver, Emma Miller, 

Mertie Pulver, Vinnie Shirley. — 8. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OE LAKE. 139 

Boys'' Class, Miss Cora Pulver, teacher. 
Eddie Bixermann, Solomon Spry, 

Louis Belshaw, George Miller, 

Albert Belshaw, Howard Slocomb, 

Clement Spry. — 7. 

Infant Class, Miss Ellen Little, teacher. 
Marshall Brannon, Julia Belshaw, 

Willie Brannon, Willie Bixermann, 

Caroline Bixermann, Anna Miller, 

Earl Pulver, *Ella E. Belshaw.— 7. 

Total membership, 40. 

OAK GROYE UNION" SCHOOL, 1888. 

Superintendent, Miss Clara Barrett. 
Secretary, Miss Jennie Sanders. 
Treasurer, Miss Ella Sims. 

Librarian, Miss May Bryant. Before September, 
Miss Anna Bailey. 

Bible Class, Mrs. Barrett, Teacher. 
B. Hoover, H. Barrett, 

Mrs. Ella Hoover, J. Sangers, 

Cora Saylor, L. Mayard, 

Harry Meadows, T. Sims, 

Tiny TJhter.— 9. 
Children's Class, H. W. Dodd, Teacher. 
Alta Dodd, Ada Doty, 

Ella Sims, Andrew Childers, 

Anna Bailey, May Bryant, 

Daisy Bailey, George Sims, 

Anna McCaskey. — 9. 
Infant Class, Miss Jennie Sanders, Teacher. 
Bell Bryant, Edna Dodd, 

Mertie Dodd, Sadie Childers, 

Etta Dodd, Searl Childers, 

Gertie Sanders, Edna Doty. — 8. 

Total membership, 30. 

* Died March 3, 1890. 



140 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

WEST CREEK M. E. SCHOOL, 184-3. 

Superintendent, Charles Belshaw. 

On account of diphtheria, school was closed in the 
spring. The enrollment is probably not perfect. 
Names: Boy Nelson, B. Nelson, Jessie Hayden, Grace 
Hayden (a winsome girl, about eleven years of age, 
died of diphtheria in May, 1890), Abby Hathaway, 
Harry Hathaway, Sylvia Hayden, A. Hayden, Carrie 
Hayden, Floyd Hayden, Stella Foster, Clyde Foster, 
Kittie Foster, Bertha Foster, Wayne Foster, Blanche 
Hathaway, Carrie Hathaway, Nannie Bailey, — Bailey, 
Arthur Trump, Jodie Hayden, Edna Hayden 5 Edith 
Hayden, Helen Moore, W. Moore, West Moore. 
Teachers' names not given, 30. 

RIVER RIDGE UNION SCHOOL, 1888. 

Not now in session on account of two or three great 
wants, largely for the want of a suitable room in which 
to meet. The school has a small library, and the chil- 
dren are furnished with papers. 

Members, not numbered in the attendance of this 
year : 

Mrs. George Cole, Lettie May Stowell, 

Mrs. Latta, Jes. Stowell, - 

Lizzie Gale, Floyd Stowell, 

Hattie Gale, Icie Stowell, 

Mary Gale, Katie Cheever, 

Annie Gale, ■ Marvin T. Latta, 

George Gale, Edward Latta, 

Alta Thullen, Mary Blanche Latta, 

George Stowell, Alexander Black. — 18. 

Total membership for township, 197. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 



141 



CEDAR CREEK. 

CEDAR LAKE UNION SCHOOL, 1840. 

Location at Creston. 

Superintendent, George Taylor. Before Sept 
Cross. 

Secretary, Mrs. Martha Love. 
Chorister, Byron Cross. 
Organist, Ora B. Cross. 
Bible Class, J. E 

Mrs. Emma Nichols, 

Mrs. Ella Barber. 

L. G-. Cutler, 

M. A. Palmer, 

Mrs. Susan Taylor, 

C. A. Taylor, 



B. 



Love, teacher. 
Mrs. Ella Taylor, 
George Taylor, 
C. N". Barber,. 
Mrs. Alice Palmer, 
Mrs. Martha E. Love, 
B. F. Palmer.— 12. 



Young People's Class, B. Cross, Teacher. 



John Wheeler, 
Mattie Garrison, 
Ruth Edgerton, 
Ora B. Cross, 
Jasper Palmer, 
John Thompson, 
Henrietta Palmer, 
Alma Edgerton, 



Infant Class, Mrs. Mary Cross, Teacher, 
teacher, Mrs. Scritchfield. 



Robert Scritchfield, 
Lucy Cutler, 
Alia Garrison, 
Ernest Cross, 
Charles Cutler, 
Theodore Cutler, 
George Edgerton, 
Carrie Garrison. — 16. 
Former 



Belva Cross, 
Grace Love, 
Mertie Barber, 
Edna Taylor, 
Bessie Love, 
Mollie Love, 
Fannie Edgerton, 
James Hill, 



Blanche Nichols, 
Hattie Mchols, 
Owen Taylor, 
Robert Palmer, 
Florence Palmer, 
Grace Palmer, 
Warren Meyers, 
Harry Meyers, 



Maggie Vinnedge. — 17. 



142 THE SUKDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

Girls' Class, Mrs. Dora Palmer, Teacher. 
Maud Hill, Mary Hill, 

Ella Vinnedge, Lula Heath, 

Emma Stuppy, G-raee Spaulding, 

Mary Palmer, Nellie Taylor, 

Clara Nichols, Bessie Palmer, 

Celina Nichols. — 11. 

Boys' Class, Miss Annie Taylor, Teacher. 
Harry Taylor, James Palmer, 

Cordie Cross, Fred Scritchfield, 

Arthur Taylor, Cassius Scritckfield, 

Earle Taylor, Edward Stuppy, 

Elmer Vinnedge, Cal. Pixley, 

Henry Cutler, Edward Garrison, 

Clifford Thompson.— 13. 
Total membership, 75. 

ORCHARD GROVE M. E. SCHOOL, 1843. 

Superintendent, George Ragon. 

Assistant, Lester Wallace . 

Treasurer and Librarian, Miss Stella Wallace. 

Secretary, Miss Addie Wallace. 

Bible Class, L. Wallace, Teacher. 
George Eagon, Henry Spalding, 

James Craft, Clifford Kermey, 

Albert Davis, Fred Ebert, 

Harry Kenney, Burt Craft, 

Clifford Hill, E. McNay.— 10. 

Bible Class No. 2, Mrs. Anna Davis, Teacher. 
Stella Wallace, Bertha Wallace, 

Flora Craft, Isabel Spalding, 

Addie McNay, Laura Cottrill, 

Myrtle Hill, Alice Ebert, 

Locena Hill, Minnie Fuller, 

Alice Kenney, Cora Davis, 

Cora Kenney, Addie Wallace. — 14. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 143 

Children's Class, Miss Minnie Ebert, Teacher. 
Merl Kenney, Georgie Davis, 

Maggie Ebert, Gretna Norton, 

Alice Spalding, Georgia Norton, 

Jessie Kenney, Grace Norton, 

Kate Kenney, Vern Kenney, 

Edith Ebert, Harry Hill.— 12. 

Infant Class, Miss Grace Ebert, Teacher. 
Ethel Davis, Walter Craft, 

Roy Kenney, Vera Hill, 

Charley Kenney, Joe Ebert, 

Anna Ebert, Frank Ebert, 

Nellie McNay, Vada McNay.— 10. 

Total membership, 50. 
LOWELL union, 1871. 

Superintendent, Cyrus F. Dickinson. 

Secretary, Miss Bessie Ackerman. 

Treasurer, Mrs. E. Harrison. 

Bible Class, Teacher, J. L. Worley. 
J. Pinkerton, Mrs. Pinkerton, 

H. Dickinson, Mrs. Dickinson, 

Will Northrup, Mrs . Worley, 

Mr. Sprague, Mrs. Sprague, 

Mrs. Collins, Mrs. Potter, 

Mrs. Cox.— 11. 

Young People's Class, Teacher, Mrs. Baughman. 
James Grant, Miss Lizzie Grant, 

Mrs. Katie Handley, Miss Grace Gordon, 

Mrs. Alice Klein, Mrs. Susie Allen, 

Miss Bessie Driscoll, Arthur Dickey, 

T. Collins, Miss Fanny Vosburg, 

F. Weakly, Mrs. Weakly. 

Miss G. Tuthill, Mrs. W. Clark, 

H. Dumond. — 15. 



144 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

Young Ladies'' Class, Teacher, Mrs. Pinkerton . 

Bessie Purdy, Eva Spry, 

Maggie Smith, Dollie Smith, 

Elsie Gordon, Cora Pattee, 

Lottie Field, Cora Harrison, 

Daisy Moore, Mamie Witt. — 10 
Girls' Class, Teacher, Miss Dora De Witt. 

Pearl McNay, Veva Castle, 

Mabel Purdy, Ida Berlun, 

Maud Nichols, Kittie Marmon, 

Lola Ragon, Ada Sanger, 

Lillian Wood, Jessie Nichols, 

Nora Pattie, Mamie Jeffrie. — 1%. 
Second Girls' Class, Teacher, Miss May Deathe. 

Zoda Ackerman, Irma Collins, 

Lotta Metcalf, E.Nichols, 

Laura Bates, Helen Peterson, 

Ora Wood, D. Marmon, 

Jessie Deathe, Bessie Post, 

Ina Klein, Ella Anderson, 

Icie Fross, Dora Witt, 

May Cottrell, Pearl Nichols, 

Sadie Nichols, Bernice Allen, 

Hattie Smith, Alice Shurte, 
Grace Pinkerton. — 21. 
Infant Class, Boys' Division, Teacher H. Dickinson. 

Clyde Hill, Clay Chitwood, 

Lint Wood, Bert Wood, . 

Earl Fross, Mint Clover, 

David Lee, Fred Lee, 

Jeddie Sanger, Harry Lloyd, 

Harry Peterson, Hal Handley, 

Cordie Eagon, Arthur Fisher, 
Walter Powell. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OP LAKE. 145 

Boys' Class— Teacher, Miss Pinkerton. 

Will Smith, Lute Smith, 

Alva Wood, Daniel Klein, 

Charles Fisher, Fred Tillotson, 

Fay Pattee, Freddie Kyle, 

Samuel Bahcock, Cal Nichols.— 10; 
Infant Class— Girls' Division— Miss Bessie Ackerman. 

Minnie Spry, Alice Spry, 

Viola Spry, Ella Atwood, 

Bessie Chitwood, Bessie Peterson, 

Mabel Hitt, Mabel Simpson, 

Abby Simpson, Mary An It, 

Jennie Witt, J. Klein, 

Jessie Fisher, Neva Deathe, 

Edith Dickinson, Alice Sprague, 

Ella Ackerman, Ethel Sprague, 

Bessie Fross, Madeline Driscoll, 

Susie Gordon, Luella Spry, 

Mira Mee, Florence Mulliken — 39. 
Total membership, 124. 

LOWELL M. E. SCHOOL, 1871. 

Superintendent, J. C. Spindler. 

Secretary, Miss Mattie McMinimy. 

Treasurer, . 

Organist, Miss Blanche Dickinson. 

Class No. 1, Rev. J. Bruce, Teacher. 
John Thorn, G. W. Handly, 

Perry Jones, Mr. and Mrs. Shouff, 

Mrs. Daum, C. Ketchem. — 7. 

Class No. 2, Mrs. S. J. Clark, Teacher. 
Luella Fuller, Clara Webb, 

Clara Spindler, Clara Horhan, 

S. Dwyer, C. C. Dwyer, 

Mrs. Gregg, Mrs. Chs. Ketchem, 

Mrs. R. Cullum, John Ault, 

Oscar Hill.— 11. 



146 THE SUKDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

Class No. 3, Mrs. D. Burhans, Teacher. 
Gracia Nichols, Hiram Gregg, 

Kuth Bacon, Bernard Kobson, 

Ruby Bacon, Kill Davis, 

Ora Sarjeant, Albert Post, 

Cora Sarjeant, Irvin Swindler, 

Winnie Deathe, Mattie Hill, 

Blanche Dickinson, Merle Ashton, 

Etta Clark, Mattie McMinimy, 

Bertha Maxwell, Lucian Brannon, 

Maud Sanger, Walter Sanger. — 19. 

Class No.. 4, Mrs. Etta Davis, Teacher. 
Vira Harris, Grade Bacon, 

Annie Johnson, Mamie Nichols, . 

Norma Cullurn, Ida Hoshaw, 

Sylvia Dwyer, Maud Hoshaw, 

Jennie Ault, My rtie Chapman. — 10. 

Class No . 5, Mrs. Sarah Sherrat, Teacher. 
Bernie Burhans, Clyde Cullum, 

Mellie Nichols, Willie Lawrence, 

Willie Kyle, Charlie Sherrat, 

Willard Farwell.— 7. 
Class 6, Sylvia Bacon, Teacher. 
Juddie Davis,. Ernest Dickinson, 

Charlie Warner, Clifford Halsted.— 4 

Class No. 7, Miss Eva L. Waters, Teacher. 
Jessie Hill, Lillie Tillotson, 

Flourrie Waters, Carrie Castle, 

Dollie Lee, May Lawrence, 

Ella Ketchem.— 7. 
Class 8, Mrs. Mary Warner, Teacher. 
Cordie Burhans, Willie Davis, 

Freddie Kyle, Willie Purdy, 

Juddie Sanger, Sammy Babcock, 

Hermia Purdy, Harry Sanger, 

Hall Viant, Bird Viaut, 

Don Driscol. — 11. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 



147 



INFANT CLASS. 

Class No. 9, Maud Sherrat, Teacher. 
George L. Foster, Eddie Johnson, 

Blanche Cullum, Myrle Belshaw, 

Lena Kyle, Lillian Kyle, 

Madeline Driscol, lone Chapman, 

Willie Nichols.— 9. 
Total membership, 98. 

EGYPT UNION, 1883. 

Superintendent, J. L. Worley. 
Secretary, Charles GrieseL 
Treasurer, Dora Griesel. 
Ladies' Bible Class. 

Mrs. Worley, 

Mrs. Griesel, 

Mrs. Ebert, 



Mrs. Watson, 
Mrs. Johnson, 
Mrs. Fisher.— 6. 



Men's Bible Class, J. L. Worley, Teacher. 



Herman Trahm, 
S. E. Dickinson, 
A. L. Gronberg, 
Albert Anderson, 
Cyrus Griesel, 
Charles Sanders, 
John Griesel, 
Irvin Spindler, 
Frank Fisher, 
W. Worley, 
Will Uhter, 
Young Ladies' Class, Mrs. 
Ida Anderson, 
Dora Griesel, 
Hattie Griesel, 
Mrs. Uhter, 
Dollie Smith, 
Mrs. Hayden, 

Maud Hill 



P. R. Dickinson, 
John Uhter, 
Lew Uhter, 
Perry Worley, 
Nathan Worley, 
Ben Worley, 
Lewis Wood, 
Ovid Westberg, 
E. Watson, 
C. Dickinson, 
Sam Worley.— 

Allen, Teacher. 
Mrs. Worley, 
Minnie Fisher, 
Maggie Smith, 
Grace Ebert, 
Wildie Fisher, 
Hattie Sanger, 

—13. 



n 



148 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

Boys' Class, Henry Worley, Teacher. 
Melvin Griesel, George Bartholomew, 

Forest Griesel, Alva Hayden, 

Cecil Johnson, Frank Worley, 

Fred Worley, Otto Johnson.— 8. 

Girls' Class, Mrs. Rosa Worley, Teacher. 
Carrie Castle, Polly Watson, 

Myrl Griesel, Carrie Johnson, 

Bessie Allen, Hattie Smith, 

Sylvia Worley, Florence Fisher, 

Eliza Ebert, Ellen Fisher, 

Emma Uhter. — 11. 
Total membership, 64. 

Total membership for township, 411. 

EAGLE CREEK. 
PLUM GROVE UNION SCHOOL, 1852. 

Superintendent, Mrs. L. V. Pearce. 

Secretary, John A. Dinwiddie, till September; since 
September, Elmer Dinwiddie. 

Treasurer, Miss Jessie Bryant. 

Bible Class, Mrs. J. Pearce, Teacher. 
Jay Pearce, Alice Brownell, 

Florence Pearce, Bertha Bryant, 

Albert Buchanan, Jessie Bryant, 

Maggie Buchanan, J. J. McCann, 

0. Dinwiddie, Mrs. McCann, 

Jerome Dinwiddie, Mrs. C. C. Shoup, 

Elmer Dinwiddie, Will Dunn, 

John A. Dinwiddie, Hattie Cottrill, 

E. W. Dinwiddie, Rebecca McDaniel, 

Mrs. D. Dinwiddie, Etta Ewer, 

Grace Dinwiddie, Lizzie Hogan, 

Carl Brownell, Mrs. Hole. — 24. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 149 

Children's Class, Mrs. I. Bryant, Teacher. 

Joe Dinwiddie, Matie Brownell, 

Belle Dinwiddie, Jessie Hole, 

Daisy Dinwiddie, Blanche Bryant, 

John Brownell, Charley Henderson, 

Claud Brownell, Lettie Ewer, 

Katie Brownell, Myrtie Ennis — 12 . 

Infant Class, Mrs. 0. Dinwiddie, Teacher. 
Lorraine Dinwiddie, Ina Buchanan, 

Edith Dinwiddie, Eoy Shoup, 

Guy Brownell, Harry Tatman, 

Ruth Brownell, Willie Tatman, 

Eddie Brownell, May McCann, 

Cora Dinwiddie, Lottie McCann, 

Maggie Stahl.— 13. 
Total membership, 52. 

EAGLE CREEK SCHOOL, ABOUT 1860. 

Superintendent, Palmer Temple. 

Assistant, Oscar Snider. 

Secretary, T . K. Fisher. 

Treasurer, W. Dunn. 

Chorister, Miss Nettie Hughes. 

Bible Class, John Morrow, Teacher. 
William Dunn, Thomas Dilley, 

Orrin Thomas, 0. B. Ludy, 

Will Nethery, Ellis Serjeant, 

Harry Berdine, T. K. Fisher, 

Ralph Berdine, Moses Henderson 

Carl Berdine, Will Glenn, 

George Dilley. Joe Henderson. 

Frank Richard. — 12. 

Class No. 2. P. Temple, Teacher. 
Libbie Hughes, Tillie Nethery.— 2. 



150 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

Class 3, 0. Snider, Teacher. 
Mrs. Morrow, Marguerite Ludy, 

Lillie Hughes, Bertha Heise, 

Nettie Hughes, Carrie Berdine, 

Minnie Thomas, Minnie Wilson. — 8. 

Class 4, Miss Hughes, Teacher. 
Bertha Ludy, Josie Nethery, 

Dora Blan chard, — — Hughes. — 4. 

Total membership, 33. 
Total membership in township,85. 

WINFIELD TOWNSHIP. 

LE ROY M. E. SCHOOL, l«b9. 

Superintendent, S.L. Beach. Secretary, Miss Maggie 
Stewart. Treasurer, Miss Pearl Hart. 

Teachers: Samuel Love, Sen.; Wm. Turner, Mrs. 
Wm. Turner, Mrs. S. L. Beach, Mrs. Addie Love. 

Members of the School : Mrs. Susie Miller, Mrs. A. 
E. Flint, Mrs. Harvey Gibbs, Mrs. Mary A. Phillips, 
Mrs. Jennie Love, Mrs. Ella Klinger, John R. Klinger, 
Peter Love, Harriet Stewart, Jacob Teeple, John Cun- 
ningham, Harvey Gibbs, Alvah Gibbs, Chas. Keehn, 
Maud Gibbs, Mabel Gibbs, Floy Beach, Florence Dulein, 
Frankie Dulein, Marion Riffle, Hugh Turner, John 
Turner. May Turner, Fred Love, Ella Stewart, Ara 
Green, Mertie Downs, Lula Flint, Cora Dulein, 
Mettie Kelly, Rebecca Downs, Willie Stewart. Total 
membership, 40. 

LE EOT U. P. SCHOOL, 1*89. 

J. P. Baldwin's Class. 

Maggie Baird, Joseph Baird, Mary Baird, Jennie 
Nethery, Christopher Nethery, Martha Baldwin, Maggie 
Wilson, Lula Wilson, Dave McKnight, Willie Mc- 
Knight, Lizzie McKnight (young people). — 11. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 151 

Mrs. R. Wilson's Class. 

Willie Baird, Lizzie Baird, Charles McCay, Delbert 
McCay, Eddie Wilson, Albert Wilson, Nannie Mc- 
Knight, Jimmie McKnight (younger people). — 8 

D. H. Thompson's Class. 

Mr. and Mrs. J. Nethery, R, Wilson, Mrs. J. Wil- 
son, Mrs. Thompson, Mr. and Mrs. McKnight, Mrs. 
Baldwin, Mr. and Mrs. West. — 10. 

Mrs. Stewart's Class. 

Edith McCay, Ella Stewart, Sammie Thompson, 
Jennie Thompson, Mattie Baird, Phoebe Baird (chil- 
dren). — 6. 

Superintendent, James McKnight. Secretary, Miss 
Mary Baird, 

Total membership, 40. Membership in township, 80. 

CENTER. 
CROWN POINT GERMAN" M. E., 1874. 

Superintendent, John Knoedler. 
Secretary, Conrad Bitzer. 
Organist, Miss Hattie Bach. 

Class 1. Conrad Bitzer, Teacher. 
George Bach, Titus Peters, 

Willie Peters, George Peters, 

Dan Bitzer, Herman Schroeder, 

Henry Kuehl, Willie Kuehl.— 8. 

Class 2. Miss Christina Bitzer, Teacher. 
Lizzie Bitzer, Hattie Bach, 

Lydia Bitzer, Barbara Wagner, 

Annie Kuehl, Annie Schroeder. — 6. 

Class 3. Miss Rosa Knoedler, Teacher. 
Emma Bach, Carrie Kuehl, 

Mary Bach, Ella Schroeder, 

Dora Kuehl, Lydia Peters. — 6. 

Class 4. Mrs. F. Peters, Teacher. 
Susie Ludwig, Carrie Ludwig, 

Ida Ludwig, Emma Kuehl.— 4. 



152 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

Class 5. Mr. Kuehl, Teacher. 
Willie Bach, Wesley Peters.— 2. 

Total membership, 32. 

CROWN POINT GERMAN EVANGELICAL SCHOOL, 1874. 

Superintendent, 0. Weis. Secretary, W. Raasch. 

John Houk, Matt. Houk, 

Mrs. Houk, Mrs. Houk, 

Sarah Houk, Susie Houk, 

Minnie Houk, Lena Houk, 

Bertha Houk, Gertie Houk, 

Willie Houk, Etta Houk, 

Kosa Houk, Ben. Houk, 

Clarence Houk, George Houk, 

Mrs. Houk, Florence Houk, 

L. Weis, Joseph Ade 

Ida Weis, Mrs. Ade, 

Dena Weis, Ida Ade, 
Total membership, 26. 

CROWN POINT EREE METHODIST, 1881. 

Superintendent, Mrs. M. Ross. 
Secretary, Miss Etta Mills. 
Treasurer, Mrs. D. Ross. 
Librarian, Miss Hattie Kinney. 

Bible Class, T. Cleveland, Teacher. 
W. Ross, David Ross, 

Mrs. D. Ross, Miss Fran cesYirsa. — 4 

Girls' Class, Mrs. M. Ross, Teacher. 

Ula Hall, Grace Ross, 

Ola Lane, Rosa Delcamp. — 4. 

Young Ladies' Class, S. Crawford, Teacher. 

Hattie Kinney. May Wilder, 

May Stevens. — 3. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 153 

Boys' Class, Mrs. Fessenden, Teacher. Part of the 
year, Mrs. D. Koss. 

Melvin Eoss, Harry Koss, 

Dennis Brown, Carson Ross, 

Arthur Brown, John Wise, 

Clay Foster, James Wise, 

B. Foster, T. Moriarity.— 10. 

Girls' Class, Mrs. Wise, Teacher. 
Pearl Wheaton, Addie Smith, 

Jessie Ross, Allie Brown, 

Bertha Didie, Susie Ludwig, 

Ida Ludwig, Clara Conway, 

Delia Conway, Edna Rhodes, 

Sarah Shafer, Shafer, 

Myrtle Day.— 13. 
Infant Class, Miss Allie Fessenden, Teacher. 
Willie Didie, Arthur Bush, 

Charlie Didie, Eva Bush, 

Gilbert Ross, Hattie Delcamp, 

Gouldie Ross, Ruth Fessenden, 

Clarence Bush, George Fry, 

Hattie Hall, Eldridge Hall, 

Victor Day. — 13. 
Total, 54. 

CROWN POINT METHODIST EPISCOPAL SCHOOL, 1843. 

The other Crown Point schools meet in the morn- 
ing. 

This school meets in the afternoon. 
Superintendent, Dr. Gibbs. 

NAMES OF MEMBERS. 

Ella Warner, Ida Westphall, Alta Meeker, Mabel 
Wilder, Anna Fisher, Edith Maxwell, Lilly Krinbill, 
Allie Houk, Lizzie Pratt, Mrs. Allison, Belle Hendly, 
Mary Muzzall, Sabra Babbitt, Josie Pratt, Ola Barton, 



154 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE.. 

Allie Fuller, Ida Lisbern, Richard Scoates, Minnie 
Sholtz, Knby Flemming, Hazel Sanders, Delia Con- 
way. Lizzie Sage, Hans Cook, Bessie Rosenbar, Jennie 
Westphall, Edna Maynard, Edith Fuller, Ray Rock- 
well, Blanch Salisbury, Rae Lathrop, Ora Farley, Floy 
Vincent, Marie Ames, Georgia Crawford, Ruth Fessen- 
den, Louera Steb, Mattie Hall, Edith Steb, Louis Cof- 
fin, Lizzie Cook, Freddie Cook, Winnie Hack, Bessie 
Hildreth, Margaritte Allison, Bessie Scoates, Gertie 
Fisher, Ernest Pierce, Charlie "Westphall, Ernest Hall, 
Willis Wood, Clarence Flemming, Willie Ainsworth, 
Harry Honk, Frank Beck, Willie Stolz, Wells Ains- 
worth, Georgie Fry, Dan Scoates, Wesley Peters, Bal- 
lard Hale, Frank Muzzall, George Perleywitz, Emil 
Blinkhaan, Robert Henry, Charles Wise, George Peters, 
William Peters, Earl Caswell, John Melcher, Claude 
Roller, Ward Marble, Harry Hay ward, Eugene Cooper, 
Toots Moriarity, Johnnie Letterer, Harry Hart, Carson 
Ross, Burr Wheeler, Johnnie Houk, Harry Ross, Willie 
Tuttle, Roy Klinefelter, John Kenny, Henry Fredrick, 
Malvin Ross, Arthur Brown, Willie Hagedorn, Nina 
Hayward, Maud Smith, Anna Westphal, Martha Jones, 
Allie Fessenden, Ula Hall, Jena Case, Mable Stolz, 
Bessie Roller, Hannah Ketzman, Phebe Anesworth, Ida 
Fredrick, May Melcher, Hannah Diddee, Grace Ross, 
Frank Houk, John Wise, Henry Wise, Walter Atweli, 
Albert Killborn, Archie Farley, A. M. Markle, W. A. 
Scheddell, E. J. Muzzall, T. A. Muzzall, Jos. Patton, W. 
D» Jones, F. M. Armstrong, Olive Jones, Jennie Pat- 
ton, May Fancher, May Lathrop, Clara Houk, Flora 
Houk, Cleo Wolf, Emma Handly, Bessie Harmon, 
Pearl Mallery, Lilly Fredrick, Lydia Peters, Juno 
Henderson, Essie Flandly, Emily Hayward, Lulu Baker, 
Nellie Luther, Lilly Furneld, Flora Wood, Nettie Tee- 
pie, Delia Killborn, Birdie Smith, Delia Flemming, 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 155 

Grace Fancher, Hattie Kenny, Daisy Phelps, Myrtle 
Phelps, Anna Imhoff, Tracy Koupal, Clara Sherman, 
Mamie Melcher, Myrtie Fellman, Allie Merrill, Ruth 
Marble, Mamie Swartz, May Barton, Kittie Swartz, 
Tiliie Griesel, Eva Wolf, May Wolf, Mertie Westphal, 
Ruth Lathrop, Julia Maynard, Hattie Haggerdorn, 
Luella Edgerton, Mertie Crowell, Frankie Wheaton, 
Maggie Dietel, Bessie Rose, Edna Ames, Ida Maynard, 
Tiliie Letterer, Mary Sfceeb, Bertha Keitzman, Mary 
Vincent, Floy Coffin, Anna Wheeler, Effie Crawford, 
Edith Rudolph, Amy Salisbury, May Kenny, Neva 
Hay ward, Alice Wise, Lilly Goff, Jennie Simon, Mag- 
gie Mulcher, Pearl Wheaton, Clara Conway, Ada Edger- 
ton, Barbara Clement, Alvira Brown. Total, 188. 

CROWN POIJSTT PRESBYTERIAN SCHOOL, 1840. 

Edith Pettibone, Alice Holm, Harry Laws, Harvey 
Rockwell, Herbert Luckey, John Kemp, Elmer Kemp, 
Bessie Brown, Bernice Brown, Eva Brown, Grace 
Brown, Addie Smith, Clara Jarard, Winnie Hack, 
Arthur Bowes, Mamie Bowes, Edith Rudolph, Julian 
Youche, Edna Martin, Clara Borchert, Neva Hay ward, 
Nellie Eldridge, Bertha Eldridge, Lena Donch, Addie 
Edgerton, Debbie Wolf, Clarence Rudolph, Howard 
Kemp, Cora Horst, Maggie Morgan, Belle Peterson, 
Murray Morgan, Hattie Morgan, Eddie Ruschli, Delia 
Herst, Benton Lee, Jay Williams, Ned Wheeler, Neddie 
Ames, Frank Beck, Ralph Gromann, Jay Clark, May 
Wolf, Pearl Nicholson, Minnie Smith, May Davis, 
Pauline Pettibone, Nellie Greisel, Luella Edgerton, 
Mabel Brown. Myrtle Westphal, Jenie Case, Alice 
Willy, Edna Gromann, May Brown, Nina Hayward, 
Linda Wells, Jennie Wheeler, Maud Williams, Jessie 
Clark, Louisa Borchet, Tiliie Borchet, Emma West- 
phal, Allie Merrill, Ruth Morgan, Earle Caswell, Homer 



156 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

Williams, Eay Ames, Carl Ames, Delbert Shirland, 
George Jarrard, Birch Wells, Howard Hack, Bernie 
Foster, Clay Foster, Myra Wheeler, Jennie Wells, Ber- 
tie Lee, Daisy Barr, Myrtle Phelps, Daisy Phelps, Julia 
Hughes, Mabel Holton, Alice Williams, Eva Pierce, 
Josie Pratt, Elizabeth Hickcox, Flora Wood, Jessie 
Doak, Claribel Clark, Mrs. Eockwell, Jennie Northrup, 
May Northrup, Mrs. Clara Clark, Mrs. Atkin; Mr. 
Gromann, superintendent; Mrs. Gromann, Mrs. Thomas 
Fisher, Mrs. John Fisher, Florence Pratt, Lizzie Pratt, 
May Williams, Mrs. Biggs, Miss Flora Stout, Dr. Ma 
Whinney, Celia Jewett, Eev. Luckey, teachers. — 107. 

THE SCHOOL IK THE WOODS, 1889. 

Superintendent, T. H. Ball. 

Secretary, Miss Ella Goff. 

Librarian, Albert Mracek. 

Treasurer, Miss Ida Schwuchow. 

Teacher, Miss Fanny Henry. 
Clarence Sherman, Ella G. Goff, 

Charlie Sherman, Mary Coon, 

Maud Sherman, Annie Coon, 

Cora Sherman, Ida Schwuchow. 

Albert Mracek, Emma Schwuchow, 

Peter Mracek, John Schwuchow, 

Annie White, Bertha Burge, 

Arthur Burge, John Coon, 

May Burge, Mary Weiderman, 

George Barman, Lulu Weiderman, 

Annie Norak, Annie Siems, 

Tony Norak, Emma Norak, 

Louisa Norak. — 25. 
Total membership, 27. 
Total in Township, 434. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 157 

HANOVER. 
CEDAR LAKE GERMAN M. E. SCHOOL, 1850. 

Superintendent, August Einspahr. Secretary, 
Bennie Nitsche. 

Bible Class: Conrad Ortmyer, teacher; William 
Sautter, Martin Musbach, George Piepho. — 3. 

2d Bible Class: Martin Sautter, teacher; August 
Einspahr, F. Einspahr, William Einspahr. — 3. 

Young Ladies' Class: Mrs. Sautter, teacher; Minnie 
Piepho, Sarah Sautter, Louise Piepho. — 3. 

Girls' Class: Mrs. Nitsche, teacher; Pauline Gro- 
man, Carrie Ortmyer, Julia Groman, Emma Fedler, 
Emma Sautter. — 5. 

2d Girls' Class : Mrs. Piepho, teacher; Emma 
Einspahr, Lydia Mueller. — 2. 

Boy's Class: Bennie Nitsche, teacher; Martin 
Einspahr, Emil Einspahr, Walter Einspahr, Eddie Ort- 
myer, Arthur Ortmyer. — 5. 

2d Boys' Class: Will Sautter, teacher; William Hoff- 
man, John Bansie, George Hoffman, Henry Ortmyer. 
—4. 

Infant Class: Mrs. Musbach, teacher; Lydia Fedler, 
Lizzie Fedler, Dora Groman, Emma Storgman. — 4. 

Total membership, 40. 

ST. JOHN'S TOWNSHIP. 
DYER UNION SCHOOL, 1880. 

Superintendent, Mrs. M. Flanagan. 
Secretary, Frank Scidler. 
Treasurer, Mrs. Templeton. 
Bible Class. 
Dr. Turner, Mrs. Turner, 

Mrs. Dustin.— 3. 
Young Men's Class, Mrs. Brewer, Teacher. 
Frank Scidler, Thomas Flanagan, 

John Dustin, Frank Jenks, 

George Scidler, Barney Flanagan. — 6. 



158 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

Young Ladies' Class, Mrs. Johns, Teacher. 
Alice Davis, Katie Johns, 

May Davis, Zippie Davis, 

Maud Dustin, Minnie Stadfield, 

Willie Davis, Flossie Davis.— 8. 

Boys' Class No. 1, Mrs, Templeton, Teacher. 
Herman Ohld, Charley Scidler, 

Fred Sanders, George Claud Smith, 

Claud Dustin. — 5. 
Boys' Class No. 2, Mrs. Smith, Teacher. 
George E. Young, Charles Stommel, 

Freddie Young, Dana G. Smith, 

Eddie Young. — 5. 
Infant Class, Mrs. Flanagan, Teacher. 
Alfred Davis, Annie Kruse, 

Louisa Davis, Bessie Smith, 

Tillie Scidler, Verna Jessie Brewer, 

Katie Young, Susie Turner, 

Clara Davis, Emma Scidler. — 10. 

Total membership, 4fi. 

ROSS TOWNSHIP. 
HURLBURT UNION SCHOOL. 1867. 

Superintendent, Michael Wahl, Jr. 

Assistant Sup't, James Philips. 

Chorister, David Peck. 

Organist, Miss Malita Young. 

Secretary, Miss Susie Guernsey. 

Treasurer, James McKinney. 

Librarians, Miss Orrinda Peck, Randolph Guernsey. 
Bible Class No. 1. Teacher, James Philips. 

Joseph Guernsey, Henry Hurlburt, Homer E. Smith, 
Thomas Strong, Milan Hurlburt, Joseph Pitt, George 
Wieler, D. B. Sturtevant, Enoch Jones, Thomas Roper, 
George Sheffield, Orson Bacon, E. Bragington, Ezra 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 159 

Furgeson, Thomas Frame, Solon French, B. Clifford, 
David Guernsey, Chester Guernsey, Jr., Isaac Hardesty, 
Orrin Burge, Chauncy Bacon, F. Williams, Samuel 
Campbell, Dr. Peck, Dr. Mackey, D. M. Daum, Otis 
Guernsey, Mr. Dollhoover, Mr. Plumer. — 30. 

Bible Class No. 2. . John Peck, Teacher. 

Mrs. M. C. Wahl, Mrs. J. Sturtevant, Mrs. P. 
Strong, Mrs. A. Hurlburt, Mrs. L. Sargeant, Mrs. 0. 
Burge, Mrs. J. Pitt, Mrs. S. Guernsey, Mrs. A. Frame, 
Mrs. W. Clifford, Mrs. S. French, Mrs. Tabor, Mrs. 
F. Jones, Mrs. F. Campbell, Mrs. I. Peck, Mrs. I. 
Wieler, Mrs. A. Furgeson, Mrs. J. Sheffield, Mrs. G. 
Guernsey, Mrs. E. Peck, Mrs. J. Williams, Mrs. N. 
Hardesty, Mrs. J. Beam, Mrs. C. Stegmeier, Mrs. S. 
Hurlburt, Mrs. V. Hollister, Mrs. Emma Wert, Mrs. 
Emma Dollhoover, Mrs. J. 'Riecker, Mrs. E. Plumer, 
Mrs. R. Guernsey. — 31. 

Class, No. 1. D. B. Peck, Teacher. 

Orrinda Peck, Rosa Stegmeier, Abbie Smith, Calla 
Sargeant, Annie Peck, Flora Patton, Lena Wahl, Cora 
Burge, Susie Guernsey, Etta Campbell, Clara Yager, 
Nellie McKinny, Lyda Hutton, Stella Strong, Eda 
Williams, Libbie Sykes, May Moran, Carrie Hollister, 
Martha Maybaum, Ada Peck. — 20. 

Class No. 2. Teacher. Clinton Peck. 

John Sturtevant, Randolph Guernsey, James Mc- 
Kinny, James Frame, William Furgeson, Grant Peck, 
Orrin Peck, James Patton, Mark Philips, James Tabor, 
Archie Kinworthy, Asa Strong, George Chandler, John 
Campbell, Am. Peck, Frank Bellsoover, Schuyler Hard- 
estey, Fred Bragington, Burton French, Amel Knob- 
lock.— 20. 

Class No. 3. Mrs. Rachel Smith, Teacher. 

Howard Smith, Edward Clifford, Jacob Hurlburt, 
William Clifford, Harry Tabor, Vanct Peck, Henry 



160 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

Lipp, David Young, Charles Sargeant, Robert Clifford, 
CalBellzoover, Walter Hogberg, Clarence Hogberg. — 13. 

Class No. 4. Rose Hurlburt, Teacher. 
Etta Peck, Celeste Peck, Ida Roper, Rhod? Smith, 
Addie Guernsey, Sophie Meyers, Melissie Melcher, 
Lottie Story, Jennie Hurlburt, Carrie Young, Maud 
Moran/Mary Huepel. — 12. 

Class No. 5. Mrs. Sarah E. Niles, Teacher. 
Clayton Strong, Lawrence Cooper, Harry Beltz- 
hoover, Henry Hogberg, Jimmy Hutton, Richard 
Nantz, Irvin Frame, Burton Frame, Jesse Porch. — 9. 

Class No. 6. Nancy Peck, Teacher. 

Millie R. Smith, Carrie Sturtevant, Ella Guernsey, 
Emma Guernsey, Ora Peck, Mary Roper, Ella Wert, 
Mary Peck, Anna Keuphal, Lizzie Moran, Bettie 
Chandler, Teny Huebel.— 13. 

Class No. 7. Mrs. E. Guernsey, Teacher. 

Chester Hurlburt, Arthur Strong, Theodore Yager, 
Hazzy Guernsey, George Plumber, Albert Morehouse, 
Edward Maybaum, Albert Maybaum, George Hurlburt, 
George Murray. — 10. 

Class No. 8. Teacher, Malita Young. 

Lucy Niles, Fanny Strong, Emma Stegmeier, Char- 
lotte Roper, Jennie Keuphal, Ray Guernsey, Jennie 
Maybaum, Herbert Morehouse, Altie Williams, Ada 
Williams, Malita Wert, Ollie Beam, Clara Beam, Ora 
Peck, Ella Beam, Gracie Hollister, Mina Plumer. — 17. 

Class No. 9. Teacher, Mrs. Mary Wert. 

Gracie Wahl, Frantie Guernsey, Fannie Hurlburt, 
Maudie Hollister, Arthur Wieler, Robbie Morehouse, 
Harry Williams, Nathan Wert, Jay Beam. — 9. 

Total membership, 196. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OP LAKE. 



161 



DEEP RIVER UNION SCHOOL, 1888. 

Superintendent, Charles Longshore; part of year, 
B. H. Wood. 
Secretary, 

Organist, Mrs. Eva Pattee "Wood. 
Treasurer, 

Bible Class. C . Longshore, Teacher. 



George Wood, 
Mrs. Wood, 
B. H. Wood, 
Mrs. Wood, 
Nathan Wood, 
Mrs. Wood, 



A. E. Wood, 
Mrs. Wood, 
Yager, 



Mrs. Yager, 
W. Pritchett, 
Mrs. Pritchett, 
Walter Deety.— 13. 



Young Men's Class. R. Ketchem, Teacher. 



G. Wood, 
N. R. Wood, 
Charles Casbon, 
Dick Manty, 
Mark Everts, 



Lawrence Casbon, 
Charles Barney, 
T. Casbon, 
Dick Everts, 
Will Wood.— 10. 



Young Ladies' Class. R. C. Mackey, Teacher. 



Mollie Strong, 
Rosa Strong, 
Minnie Chase, 
Jennie Gordon, 
Callie Sargent, 
Minnie McGraph, 
Eunice Carbein, 
Eva Barney, 

Dora 



Minnie Marquett, 
Carrie Strong, 
Minnie Miller, 
Mary Miller, 
Lizzie Miller, 
Dora Yager, 
Anna Johnston, 

Fannie , 

,—17. 



162 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

Boys' and Girls' Class. Teachers, Mrs. Yager and Mrs, 
B. H. Wood. 

Celesta Peck, m Stella Casbon, 
Mella Peck, Martha Carbein, 

Ida Johnston, Lula Wood, 

John Christman, F. Chandler, 

Bettie Chandler, John Johnston, 

Allie Chase, Theodore Yager. — 12. 

Infant Class, Mrs. E. C. Mackey, Teacher. 

Wood Mackey, Jerald Billings, 

Wright Mackey, Grace Billings, 

Freddy Carbein, Willie Strong, 

L. Yager, Lottie Strong. — 8 

Total membership, 65. 



MERRILLYILLE METHODIST EPISCOPAL SUNDAY SCHOOL, 

1862. 

Superintendent, C.L.Merrill. 
Assistant, C. Glazier. 
Secretary, Clara B. Saxton. 
Librarians, Lillie Niksch, Sabra Zuvers. 



Bible Class. C. Glazier, Teacher. 

J. Coffey, Mrs. White, 

Mrs. Coffey, Mrs. Bandolph, 

C. L. Merrill, Mrs. M. Pierce, 

Mrs. Merrill, Mrs. C. Klinefelter, 

S. White, Mrs. C. Muzzall, 

Mrs. A. Kandolph. — 11. m 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 163 

Class No. 2. Mrs. Maria Pierce, Teacher. 



Phoebe Glazier, 
August Laison, 
Floyd Pierce, 
Bert Pierce, 



M. D. Ragon, 
Whiteside, 



Marion H. Pierce, 
Claud M. Pierce, 
Ed. Niksch.— 9. 



Young Ladies' Class, Myiel Pierce, Teacher. . 



Clara Saxton, 
Lulu Pierce, 
Anna Klinefelter, 
Sabra Zuvers, 
Emma Niksch, 
Lillie Niksch, 
Frances Hyde, 
Eva Harper, 



May Nicholson, 
Jessie Bothwell, 
Alice Demmons, 
Nettie Hanson. 
Ollie Banks, 
Rosa Fortune, 
Stella Ragon. 
Viola Richerson.- 



■16. 



Class No. 4=. S. Pierce, Teacher, 



G. Nessenhahn, 
Lawrence Niksch, 
Arthur Merrill, 
John Iddings, 
Willie Smith, 



George Boyd, 
Eddie Undine, 
Jimmie Undine, 
Albert Halsted, 
Teddie Zuvers.— 10. 



Girls' Class. Miss Alice Coffey, Teacher. 



Cora Pierce, 
Isabelle Harper, 
Jannetta Cangerty, 
Arminta Burge, 
Louisa Gertz, 



Ella Ragon, 
Maud Bailey, 
Alta Halstead, 
Maggie Undine, 
Mabel Randolph. 



Delia Demmons. — 11. 



164 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

Infant Class. Miss Angle Glazier, Teacher. 

Nora Pierce, Guy Merrill, 

Dora Pierce, Harold Iddings, 

Pearl Pierce, Harry Iddings, 

Maud Zuvers, Delia Undine, 

Grace White, Ura Halstead, 

Carrie Harper, Willie White, 

Willie Nessenhahn, Grace Demmons, 

Minnie Nessenhahn, Clarence Demmons, 

Mabel Hewitt, Celia Demmons, 

Lawrence Hewitt, Maggie Demmons,* 

Herbert Saxton, Florence Bothwell, 

Edna Saxten, Floyd Bothwell, 
Alice Boyd.— 25. 
Total membership. — 88. 

BUTLER UNION SCHOOL. 1880. 

Superintendent, E. J. Nicholson. 
Assistant Superintendent, Mrs. Nicholson. 
Secretary aud Treasurer, Miss Jessie Bothwell. 
Librarian, Miss Florence Bothwell. 

Young Men's Class, E. J. Nicholson, Teacher. 

Willie Nicholson, John C. McGee, 

Earle Newell, Dick Mitchell, 

George Baker, Hugh Nicholson, 

Arthur Merrill, Daniel Demmon, 

Samuel Smith, Whiteside. — 10. 

Young Ladies' Class, Mrs. Nicholson, Teacher. 

Mrs. Manda Bothwell, Emily Phillips, 

Mrs. R. Phillips, Victoria Christianson. 

Jessie Bothwell, Lillie Schofield, 

May Bell Nicholson, Carrie Dutton, 

Alie Demmon, Chloe Dutton. — 10. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 165 

Infant Class, John Bothwell, Teacher. 

Alfred Nicholson, Hattie Bothwell, 

Clara Nicholson, Floyd Bothwell, 

Florence Bothwell, Harry Bothwell, 

Clifford Bothwell, James Robinson, 

Alvin Shutt, Esther Robinson, 

Willie Shutt, Lulu Newell, 

Nancy Shutt, Anna L. Newell, 

Lizzie Shutt, Mark Newell, 

Tecumseh Freeman, Doc Demmon, 

Julia Christianson, Chuza Demmon. — 20. 

Total membership, 43. 
Total membership in township, 392. 

HOBART TOWNSHIP. 

HOBART M. E. SCHOOL, 1876. 

Superintendent, Mrs. M. Whitmore. 

Secretary, Miss Hattie Rice, also Miss May Cordon. 

TEACHERS. 

Dr. Turner, Mrs. Hanson, Mrs. Scoffern, Mrs. Spray, 
Mrs. Owen, Mrs. Blackball, Mrs. Dr. Cordon, John 
Underwood, George W. Scholler, Mrs. Whitmore, 

Miss Whitmore. 

MEMBERS OF SCHOOL. 

Herman Mickleson, Fred Craft, Frank Craft, Chas. 
Craft, Dan Craft, Hantz Stemmer, George Howe, 
Moses Bullock, Mable Hanson, Jessie Heartman, Myrtle 
Nearpass, Lizzie Balco, Bessie Scoifern, Annie Mickle- 
son, Hulda Johnson, Susie Turner, Emily Roper, Bessie 
Spencer, Lillie Newman, Bessie Banks, Jessie Mclntire, 
Ruth Portmers, Mamie Portmers, Gurtie Brown, 
Emily Miller, Mellie Howe, Pearl Banks, Ester Peter- 
son, Amanda Nelson, Alma Miller, Agnes Miller, Mary 



166 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

Orence, Emma Johnson, Minnie Tabbert, Daisy Rowe, 
Mabel Baker, Lottie Graves, Hulda Peterson, Will Alby, 
Perley Hunt, Howard Mclntire, Robert Roper, Earnest 
Roper, Luther Roper, Lottie Baker, Liby Wilson, Kate 
Barney, Emily Newman, Martha Harrison, Myrtie 
Banks, Ethel Gordon, Rose Truesdell, Nellie Chenney, 
Jennie Miller, Lida Howe, Alfa Bullock, Bessie Oar, 
Eddie Gordon, Fletcher Call, Roy Hanson, 
Eddie Banks, Peter Mickleson, Luther Roper, 
Mr. Whitmore, H. C. Hanson, Mrs. Hanson, Alex. Bal- 
lantyne, Mrs. Rice, Mr. Portiness, Mr. and Mrs. Har- 
rison, Howard Gordon, Rob Scholler, Leonard Owen, 
Mrs. John Gordon, George Scholler, Homer Nearpass, 
George Stocker, Willie Owen, Allen Orcutt, Rudolph 
Bofinger, Arthur Newman, Orsewen Spencer, Mortie 
Miller, Frank Feister, Eddie Feister, Joe Mundell, Paul 
Schillo, John Roper, Roy Banks, Oliver Bullock, Gil- 
bert Bullock, Harry Miller, Charlie Passono, Floyd 
Scholler, Owen Roper, Charlie Spencer, Howard May- 
baum, Lossie Roy, Emanuel Schillo, Earl Korause, 
George Burns, Joe Burns, John Howe, Howard Howe, 
Hartly Howe, Floyd Scoffern, Phonso Smith, Lorie 
Krause, Jeff Wilkleson, Norma Scholler, May Cheney, 
Katie Jacob, Julia Jacob, Minnie Rice, Lil Chase, Tillie 
Brown, Carrie Maybaum, Edna Croxford, May Black- 
hall, Emma Able, Bliss Roper, Emily Mclntire, Blanche 
Peterson, Plin Truesdell, Christ. Mickleson, Calvin 
Scholler, May Gordon, Hattie Rice, Cora Ostrander, 
Bessie Bofinger, May Mundell, Agnes Feister, Maggie 
Stresser, Carrie Banks, Fannie Nash, Ida Petter- 
son, Mate Reggen, Ada Howe, Carrie Stocker, Carrie 
Scholler, Etta Henderson, Ida Webber, Maggie Mc- 
Cormick, Fannie Smith, Laura Bofinger, Frona Horner. 

Total membership, 158. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 167 

HOBART CONGREGATIONAL SCHOOL, 1883. 

Superintendent, Abel Wood; Secretary, M. Ostran- 
der. 

Teachers: A. E. Castle, Mrs. Andrews, A. K. Gar- 
hart, Mrs. McCollum, Mrs. Nuhman, Mrs. Davis, 
Hettie Stevens, D. Castle. 

NAMES OF MEMBERS. 

Geo. Kelly, M. Ostrander, Mary Castle, Mrs. Harper, 
Mrs. Marenus, Mrs. Kay, Mrs. Rice, Alice Garhart, 
Mrs. McPherson, A. R. Castle, Frank Harper, Nellie 
Parker, Mrs. Laury, May Johnson, Elsie Johnson, 
Walter Shearer, Albert Hancock, Geo. Lutz, Emanuel 
Lutz, Silas Shearer, Willard Stevens, Willie Smith, 
Harry Davis, Geo. Thompson, Flossie Davis, May 
Davis, Ida McDaniels, Rose Shearer, Rachel Shearer, 
Robt. Tabbert, Earnest Newman, Daniel Sholler, Fred. 
Warner, Ed. Crouse, Henry Kehewl, Hattie Quirk, 
Emely Ammenne, Cora Ostrander, Fannie Crouse, 
Charles Roper, Mellie Thompson, Sammy Shearer, 
Chas. Passow, Frank Feister, Polly Davis, Willie 
Wettenberg, Clarence Roper, Eddie Feister, Robby 
Harper, Willie Davis, Fletcher Caul, Chas. Nuhman, 
Jimmy Shearer, Fred Parker, G. F. Parker, Bertie 
Ford, Ida Lutz, Ida Shearer, Emma Lutz, Mamie 
Hancock, Reeky Stemmer, Amanda Frieless, Hattie 
Stevens, Maggie McCormick, Kate Barney, Louie An- 
drews, May Andrews, Bertha Steven, Pearl Kint, 
Lula Johnson, Laura Nuhman, Katie McPherson, 
Cassie Harper, Pearl Smith, Daisy Lambert, Mable 
Caul, Tressie Loague, Allie Smith, Olga Wettingell, 
Matha Smith, Lula Ford, Hattie Kay, Tessie Garhart, 
Ruth Nuhman, Mabel Kent, Minnie Vanloon, Lady 
Vanloon, Delia Brownbrye, Clara Brownbrye, Amos 
Johnson, Harry Castle, Dick Parker. — 102. 



168 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

HOBAKT GERMAN M. E. SCHOOL, 1856. 

Superintendent, F. F. Frank. 
Secretary, Frederic Hormmer. 

MEMBERS. 

Eddie Harney, Charles Wirtenberger, Chris- 
topher Abel, Henry Harman, George Lutz, 
Emanuel Lutz, Fred Harman, Christopher Wirterber- 
ger, Jacob Wirtenberger, Ricka Stemmer, Ida Lutz, 
Martha Engebbretht, Mary Wirtenberger, Ida Shearer, 
Amanda Triebers, Carrie Triebers, Emma Abel, Ricka 
Wirtenberger, May Andrews, Louie Andrews, Emma 
Wirtenberber, Julia Wirtenberger, Bliss Eoper, Lena 
Batter man, Annie Mikleson, Lena Mikelson, Hano 
Slemmer, Peter Mikelson, Harman Mikelson, Bert Mc- 
Intire, Frank Harder, Howard Gordon, Fred Stelow, 
George Young, Fred Parker, Eddie Triebers, Willie 
Fox, Henry Fox, Fred Fox, George Wirtenberger, Fred 
Wirtenberger, Robert Engelbreth, James Ropej, Melia 
Triebers, Emily Roper, May Abel, Ida Fox, Fred Har- 
ney, Willie Harney, Frank Abel, Willie Wirtenberger, 
Christopher Mikelson, Charlie Pason, Allen Orcutt, 
Rudolph Boffinger. — 57. 

HOBART SWEDISH METHODIST SCHOOL, 1887. 

Superintendent, Ellis Anderson. 
Secretary, Willie Olson. 

Teachers, Mrs. Anderson, Andrew Nolin, Lewis 
Erickson and P. S. Peterson. 

NAMES OF MEMBERS. 

Oscar Carlson, Earnest Peterson, Eddie Anderson, 
Leonard Melin, Daniel Anderson, Axel Peterson, Wal- 
f red Strom, Arvid Helin, Willie Olson, Hannah Carlson, 
Axel Helin, Celia Peterson, Albert Helin, Ellen Peter- 
son, Axel Carlson,. Clara Peterson, Earnest Strom, 
Blanche Peterson, Adolph Helin, Ada Peterson. — 25. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 169 

LAKE HOME SCHOOL, 1882. 

Class No. 1, Mrs. Stearns, Teacher. 
Willie Hazelgreen, Albiari Hazelgreen, Bertha East- 
wood, Marion Eastwood, Connie Fabian, Walter Fabian, 
August Miller, Leta Patterson, Minnie Meier, Willie 
Meier, Gusta Papka, Charlie Papka, Martha Schultz, 
Clara Dombye, Ina Dombye. — 15. 

Class No. 2, Miss Bertha Burt, Teacher. 
Anna Meier, Lizzie Meier, Anna Miller, Lana Mil- 
ler, Minnie Burt, Clara Hazelgreen, Cora Eastwood, 
Lizzie White, Ora White, May Brown. — 10 . 
Class No. 3, Mrs. Corey, Teacher. 
Herman Schultz, Albert Schultz, Malcolm Hazelgreen, 
Charlie Larson, Frank Larson, Alfred Thorn, Seth 
Corey, Theodore Johnson. — 8. 

Class No. 4, T. E. Lincoln, Teacher. 
Maggie Burt, Mary Peterson, Jennie Johnson, May 
Eastwood, Katie Fabian, Mrs. Lincoln. — 6. 
Total Membership, 43 . 
In Township, 385. 

CALUMET. 

KOSS CONGKEGATIOKAL SCHOOL, 18 — . 

Superintendent, Mrs. W. 0. Gallagher. 

Secretary and Treasurer, Miss Mamie B. Gallagher. 
Bible Class, L. L. Holmes, Teacher. 
Mr,s. Woodbridge, Frank South worth, Mrs. Frank 
Southworth, Lou Southworth, Mrs. Lou Southworth, 
John Johnson, Nellie Johnson, Wm. Johnson, Annie 
Coodecker, Amos Hornor, Norma Loucks, W. C. Gal- 
lagher, Katie T. Gallagher, Charlie Schafer, Mrs. D. 
F. Hall, W. C. Prott, Mrs. Ewing, Mrs. L. L. Holmes, 
Annie Ewing. — 19. 



170 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

Intermediate Class, Mrs. W. 0. Gallagher, Teacher. 
Amelia Schafer, Mary Klahn, Lena Klahn, Minnie 
Klahn, Steve Reed, Lulu Reed, Mary Prott, Olie Mc- 
Gary, Eugene McGary, Julius McGary, Willie Ewing, 
Henry Ewing, Earle Newell, May Southworth, Delia 
Schoon. — 15. 

Juvenile and Primary Class, Mamie B. Gallagher, 
Teacher. 
Hubert Holmes, Arthur Holmes, Eddie Nelson, Wil- 
lie Nelson, Georgie Nelson, Harold Woods, Charlie 
Prott, Johnnie McGary, Ray Southworth, Charlie Wood- 
bridge, Eddie Johnson, Mark Newell, Henry Freiwald, 
Eddie Freiwald, Freddie Reed, Duey Hall, Harvey Hall, 
Nickie Moss, Ellen Ewing, Minnie Shearer, Blanche 
Southworth, Rosy Watts, Lulu Newell, Auna Newell. — 

24. 

Total Membership, 61. 

NORTH TOWNSHIP. 

Hammond M. E. School, 187-. 

OFFICERS. 

Superintendent, Mr. W. C. Belman, till September, 
F. H. Tuthill. 

Ass't Superintendent, Mr. A. A. Winslow. 

Secretary, Miss Belle Weed. 

Ass't Secretary, Miss Flora Wakefield. 

Treasurer, Mrs. J. W. Dake. 

Librarians, Miss Ida Fisher and Mr. J. Reed. 

TEACHERS. 

Rev. G. R. Streeter, Mrs. G. R. Streeter, Mrs. 
Frank Nason, Miss Luna Freeland, Miss Kate Weed, 
Mrs. Fremont Nason, Miss Luella Parks, Mr. E. Hunt, 
Miss Sara Daggett, Mrs. J. Beall, Mrs. D. C. Mead, 
Miss Jessie Hunt, Mrs. Hunt, Mr. Kiersey, Mr. N. 
Parker, Miss Allie Johnson, Mrs. Carrie Parker, Mrs. 
H. W. Sohl, Mrs. J. W. Dake, Miss Alice Sohl. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 171 

SCHOLARS. 

Lena Weed, Bertha Bump, Eva Bump, May Barton, 
Myrtle Prichard, Sadie Beck, Lydia McKnight, Cynthia 
Snodgrass, Nora Snodgrass, Maggie Stevens, May Til- 
ton, Hattie Wilson, Laura Hildebrand, Jessie Hinds, 
May Lancaster, Ida Hisey, Allie Hisey, Lizzie Munchen- 
burg, Mary Munchenburg, Bertha Vanness, Letha Gil- 
lett, Lulu Gillett, Lottie Corwin, Addie Jordan, Edith 
Wall, Mary Gutschlag, Maud Bell, Addie Bump, Idabelle 
Dougherty, Lotta Wendrinsky, Myrtle Wakefield, May 
Wakefield, Will Newman, Hal Jones, Harry McCoy, 
Colifax Duncan, Duncan Hunter, Ezra Railsback, 
Frank Stevens, Chas. Dougherty, Emma Weeks, Nellie 
Weeks, EfiSe Orcutte, Clara Knuchal, Cleora Webb, 
Leely Carson, Mary Kepert, Edith Flint, Anna Schwei- 
ger, Sadie Morrison, Nellie Smiley, Lulu Parker, 
Grace Bell, Alice Bump, Ethel Campbell, Gertie Bost- 
wick, Alice Green, Barbara Schweitzer, Ed. Newman, 
Guy Jones, Bert McCoy, Leo Beck, Dick Jenkins, 
H. A. Kendall, Mr. Decrow, Henry Dougherty, Mamie 
Eamey, Inez Carson, Maud Borein, Abbie Griswold, 
Laura Hatch, Kittie Gerrish, Eva Paine, Gracie Miller, 
Alta Parker, Myrtle Ramey, Carrie Wolf, Anna Parker, 
Beatrice Ross, Emma Paine, Mable Wilson, Estella 
Stacy, Nellie Green, Linnie Towle, Will Mead, Sam 
Malo, Harry Stowman, George Borem, Mel Fleming., 
Archie Ballard, Will Ranrey, Mr. L. A. Thayer, 
Roland Lewis, Verne Odell, John W. Reed, Elmer 
Malone, F. 0. Robinson, Geo. Peters, G. Hunter, G. 
Taylor, Robert Ball, J. W. Hardesty, Frank Warren, 
Arnold Lusher, George Hinds, Mr. Snodgrass, Mr. 
Meeker, Thomas Jenkins, Chas. Hunt, Willie Hocker, 
Chas. Washington, Eddie Mashim, Dan Scoates, Fred 
Wendling, Louie Carrigan, Leslie Skellenger, Bertie 



172 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

Skellenger, Oliver Wakefield, Jessie Glover, Bertha 
Bouser, Emma Bouser, Delia Seigrist, Freda Seigrist, 
Calvin Beck, Willie Beall, Bennie Mead, Clayton Root, 
Wilber Abbott, Zora Carrigan, Willie Hunt, Harry 
Stamon, Dena Malo, Chas. Borem, Mr. J. G. Ibach, 
Lizzie Heeren, Mr. T. M. Smith, Mr. H. C. Zoll, Mrs. 
L. Beck, Miss N. A. Pattee, Jimmie Mead, Thos. Malo, 
Frank Malo, Arthur Porlier, Claude Campbell, Clar- 
ence Ketchel, Elmer Wolfe, Robert Stature, Ethel 
Streeter, Julia Logan, Mable Benedict, Bertha Hayes, 
Lotta Post, Millie Flagg, Nellie Points, Nellie Fowler, 
Daisy Clark, Fay Carson, Rilla Flagg, Bean a Zander, 
Anna Andersen, Jennie Oleson, Mary Hansen, Myrtle 
Crowell, Chas. Gehrke, Willie Jones, Alfred Borman, 
Ford Hunter, Carl Vermett, Geo. Shelenger, Ellis 
Dake, Orland Parks, Morton Towle, Harry Newman, 
Bert Newman, Chas. Mead, Ralph Streeter, Georgie 
Towle, Johnnie Malo, Elbert Zoll, Lelia Zoll, Katie Wal- 
ters, Anna Sesser, Emma Kungs, Mary Kahler, Odra 
Hunter, Ella Workinger, Anna Dunke, Ethel Dake. — 
208. 

INFANT CLASS, MISS ALICE SOHL, TEACHER. 

Jimmy Mead, Beryl Woods, Edith Goodman, Volney 
Post, Ethel Crowel, Linnie Crowel Arlie Parker, Vernie 
Parker, Willie Keizer, Hattie Crumpacker, Charlie 
Crumpacker, Maud Cleveland, John Simon, Clarence 
Simon, Willie Hooker, Myrtle Phillips, Charlie Walker, 
Dora Hogue, Anna Haines, Pearl Thompson, Florence 
Thompson, Warren McMannis, Frank Bradford, Lulu 
Baldwin, Willie Mattis, Hattie Holtz, Edna Randolph, 
Robbie Martin, David Martin, Jessie Vanness, George 
Miller, Claude Beall, Ethel Merrill, Virginia Stamm, 
May Neuman, Oliver Wakefield, Freddy Towle, Katie 
Flint, Joe Schweitzer, Frank Schweitzer, Gotlieb 
Vomsh, Rosa Vomsh, Pearl Beck, Minnie Mead, 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 173 

G. S. Mead, Anna Dumpke, Mary Keizer, Ernest 
Keizer, Mary Goodslaugh, Anna Schweeger, Emma 
Schweeger, Mary Kaler, Mathew Hutchinson, Maggie 
Hutchinson, Willie Hutchinson, Guy Merrill, Albert 
Gauger, Eichard Gauger, Ida Gauger, Evaline Horn, 
Willie Huttel, Anna Schultz, Amelia Schultz, Mamie 
Morrison, Carrie Schneider, Hattie Schneider, Alvin 
Green, Frankie Beck, Allie Cole, Pearl Hast, Laura 
Bell, Mabel Green, Adine Lenz, Elenor Lenz, Louisa 
Rich, Lillie Rich, Lulu Kitchall, Clarence Kitchall, 
Ora Thatcher, Charlie Schneider, Jessie Boyd, Martha 
Kimball, Willie Behring, Freddy Behring, Elric Fisher, 
Hiram Green, Nellie Walker, Amelia Mundt, Minnie 
Mundt, Rindie Kergon, Emma Miller, Mary Hermon, 
Amelia Fromer, Mary Fromer, Birdie Stein, Ida 
Gutslaugh, Walter Sohl, Edith Nason, Gracie Wilson, 
Arthur Hillman, Robbie Hillman, Clarence Porlier, 
Charlie Kuhn, Mary Hoover, Henry Hoover, Roy 
Hatch, Frank Baker, Willie Hudson, Eugene Davis, 
Ava Flickinger, Gracie Du Comb, Mabel Wilson, Eva 
Kinnie, Claude Hunt, Ray Hunt, Laurine Washington, 
Emma Svveeger, Minnie Sweeger, Lizzie Huckleberg, 
Lizzie Fromer, Emma Jones, Vada Marshal], Maggie 
Livingston, Jimmie Hatch, Ollie Dumpkie, Eliza 
Schneider, Elma Schneider, Weedie Jones, John Kunz, 
Paul Kunz, Lizzie Hohn, Altie Parker, Mamie Mashino, 

Delia Johnson, Willie Jones, Placeby, Willie 

Green, Clara Jirard, Gracie Locht, Earl Cole, Lona 
Fisher, Vada Marshall, Lila Shields, Jessie Glover. — 
145 . Total, 353. 

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL S. S. OF HAMMOND. 
NAMES OF MEMBERS. 

Samuel Deveries, Phoenius Voight, Willie Voight, 
Joseph Miller, Chas. Ellis, Warren McManus, George 



174: THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

Miller, Baldie Miller, Albert Ellis, James Body, Fred 
Brose, Luther Wartena, Eichard Sager, Albert Body, 
Benj. Crawford, Harry Voight, Thos. Jenkins, EoVt 
Boiley, Arthur Hunt, Theodore Ahlendorf, John Kur- 
ker, Willie Stevens, Eddie Jenkins, Ohas. Eckman, 
Harry Holmes, Shnit Deveries, Otto Tieshner, Doll 
Newman, Tom Kurker, Earnest Bliss, Leroy Eastus, 
Harold Holcomb, Thos. Johnson, William Lewis, Mr. 
Williams, H. Williams, M. H. Herman, Wm. Sprunce, 
Stephen Eipley, Geo. H. Lewis, Mary Six, Olie Hunt, 
Pearl Irish, Lily Eckman, Emma Eipley, Annie Her- 
ring, Emma Oubean, Caroline Bliss, Ida Peterson, Josie 
Albright, Daisy Ellis, Murtle Fisher, Bessie Fisher, 
Flora Brose, Ida Bathlomn, Jessie Ripley, Sallie 
Plumber, Mamie Ahlendorf, Anna Mayfield, Bertha 
Williams, Iva Irish, Mamie Irish, Mamie Miller, Nellie 
Holmes, Jennie Devries, Elge Irish, Grace Parker, Min- 
nie Kurker, Susie Kurker, Ida Barnes, Annie Barnes, 
Lucy Eastus, Lutie Holmes, Mary Eckman, Lizzie Eck- 
man, Minnie Voight, Grace Eastus, Clara Holcomb,Nora 
Holcomb, Katie McManus, Mrs. Holcomb, Jessie Craw- 
ford, Mrs. Murray, Mrs. Peterson, Mrs. Irish, Mrs. 
Voight, Bertha Cobean, Ida Tamm, Alice Wartena, 
Lulu Herring, Clara Sherman, Lizzie Eipley, Miss 
Rathfone, Miama Laws, Lizzie Muchenberg, Lettie 
Good, Etta Druley, Miss Kurher, Miss Guthrie. — 99. 

HAMMOND BAPTIST SCHOOL. 
NAMES OF MEMBERS. 

Mrs. Schofield, Levi Golden, Charles Schofield, 
Charley Mead, Charles Young, Giles Warner, Mrs. H. 
B. Gero, Edith Hammond, Myrtle Frame, Fredie Sel- 
grist, Delia Selgrist, Daisy Flagg, Lula Colton, Allie 
Green, Nellie Green, L. Towle, Emma Fischer, Emma 
Gay, Addie Jordon, Bertha Schofield, Clara Schofield, 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 175 

Sadie Morrison, Katie McManis, Eliza Snyder, Myrtle 
Crowell, Nellie Fisher, Jessie Harfuel, Anna Emery, 
Mr. Teetzel, Mr. Towle, Mrs. Towle, Mrs. Eailsback, 
Mr. Mather, S. W. Snider, Mr. Gray, Helen Nason, 
Mrs. Teetzel, Mr. Varney, S. B. Thornton, Mrs. Thorn- 
ton, S. Hunter, Mrs. Fuller, Charlie Ewing, Otto , 

Bessie Mather, Vada Marshal, Jimmy Hatch, Daisy 
Emery, Florence Valient, Bertie Bradford, L. East- 
wood, Joy Golden, Mamie Irish, Charlie Ellis, Joe Steb- 
bins, Elmer Schofield, Mrs. Oalman. Grace Schofield, 
Georgie Schofield, Madge Bloss, Johnie Bloss, Albert 
Towle, Madge Stebbins, Luceille Stebbins, Miley Flagg, 
Edith Nason, Cora Abbott, Eay Abbott, Warnie Mc- 

Manus, L. Pugh, Freddie W , Freddie Golden, Willie 

Golden, Arthur Ellis, Daisy Conroy, Cora Morrison, 
Pearl Beck, Mamie Valient, Elmer Keley, Jimmie Mead, 

Elma Snider, Helen , Willie Haskins, Lena Fisher, 

Maudie Bear, Ethal Crowell, Willie Haston, May Cham- 
pane, Francis Champane, Freddie Champane, Roy 
Woodford, Robert Mortimer, Ray Voliar, Linnie Cro- 
well, Annie Bell, Emma Green, Hiram Green, 

Green, Allie Cole, Charlie Dyer, Victor Dyer, Hattie 
Aber, Montie Ciine, Charlie Cline.— 104. 

HAMMOND GERMAN SCHOOL, 1889. 

Superintendent, Rev. Willam Haas; Assistant, F. 
Siegrist; Secretary, F. Siegrist; Treasurer, G. Gehrke. 
Teachers, C. Fischer, F. Gehrke, F. Siegrist, Mrs. 
F. Gehrke, Mrs. W. Hopp, P. Andells, Mrs. C. Fischer, 
Miss R. Wuleschlager, Miss M. Haas. 
" Scholars enrolled, 65." 
Total, 76. 

HAMMOND EPISCOPAL SCHOOL. 

Names not obtained. About 40. 



176 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

PLYMOUTH CONGREGATIONAL. 

Names not obtained. About 50. 

HAMMOND CHRISTIAN. 

Lately re-opened. About 30. 

EAST CHICAGO CONGREGATIONAL, 1889. 

Superintendent, L. T. Loucks; Secretary, Miss Ida 
Cornthwaite. 

Names not obtained. Membership, 40. 

WHITING CONGREGATIONAL, 1890. 

Names not obtained. Probably 40. 

EAST CHICAGO M. E. SCHOOL, 1888. 

Superintendent — Mrs. J. V. Richardson. 

MEMBERS. 

Clarence Penman, Eobert Snedden, Thos. Galloway, 
Joe Wilson, Chas. King, Harry Wilson, Geo. Dixon, 
Henry McCready, Jas. Bartonie, Chas. Gorman, Thos. 
Cadman, Geo. Gilford, Annie Galloway, Euth Lewis, 
Jessie Hunter, May Cadman, Jessie Atkins, May Lewis, 
Jennie Gilford, Jennie Green, Effie de Breai, Lola 
Funkhouser, Lulu Funkhouser, Drew Atkins, Alice 
Williams, Adelle de Breai, Mamie Riggs, R. Hunger- 
ford, Emma Hungerford, Cora Winters, Hugh Atkin, 
Will Clinton, David Lewis, Chas. Funkhouser, Albert 
Lewis, George Clinton, Ed. Funkhouser, John Moly- 

neux, Gilbert, John Dorrance, Frank Aikens, 

Daniel Dixon, G. A. Atkins, Mrs. Atkins, Mrs. King, 
Ada Winters, Will Simons, Richard Stein, Eva Pickard, 
Emma Pickard, Edna Harper, Lidia Rust, Mabel 
McCready, Johnnie Harper, Emma Salery, Lizzie 
Stevens, Clara Robinson, Cora Edgell, Hilma Frieberg, 
Ida Harris, Ethel Evans, Blanche Evans, Gertie Van- 
geason, Mary McCarthy, Ella Stone, Ella Galloway, 
Emma German, Pearl Green, Louis German, Ed die 
Harris. — 70. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 177 

HIGHLAND UNION SCHOOL, 1886. 

Superintendent, S. N. Coleman; Assistant Super- 
intendent, — Alverson ; Secretary, Mrs. Alverson; 
Treasurer, Roy Olmsted. 

Bible Class, Mr. Alverson, Teacher. 
Mrs. Olmsted, Mrs. Johnston, Mrs. Simpson, Mr. 
Strong. — 4. 

Intermediate Class, S. N. Coleman, .Teacher. 
Grace Johnson, Roy Olmsted, Myrtie Olmsted, 
Katy Kudiker. — 4. 

Children's Class, Mrs. Alverson, Teacher. 
Gertie Kline, Lulu Reed, Nellie Sweets, Stephen 
Reed, Daisy Johnston, Gil Sweets. — 6. 

Infant Class, Mrs. Coleman, Teacher. 
Jessie Newell, Mary Jameson, Rickie Kline, Gertie 
Zipp, Jamie Sweets, Mary Zipp, Sarah Jameson, Fred- 
die Reed, Dewey Hall, Effie Haan; Harry Hall, Wilton 
Johnston, Nicholas Kudiker, Walton Sweets. — 14. 
Total membership, 32. 
Total in township, 934. 



Attending schools in Hebron from Lake County: 

H. Boyd, Mrs. Boyd, Miss Mary Boyd, James M. 
Boyd, Mrs. Boyd, Elbert Boyd, Loren Boyd, Effie Boyd, 
Annie Boyd, Lillie Boyd, James Fisher, Thomas Fisher, 
Mrs. L. V. Sarjeant. 

Attending at Salem school: 

Lucy Westbay, Edith. Westbay, Cora Westbay, Ida 
Gordon, Minnie Gordon, Walter Stonax, Ruth Nichols, 
Ray Nichols, John McFarlon, Robert McFarlon, Maud 
McFarlon, Charley Porch, Mary Porch, Jessie Porch, 
Mark Palmer, Sadie Wilkinson, Geora Wilkinson, 
Florence Teeple, John Hipsley, Harry Hipsley, Ida 
Hipsley, Bessie Hipsley, Emma Hipsley. 



178 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

I am glad to have succeeded so well in obtaining the 
names of the members of our schools, and I here heart- 
ily record thanks to those who have so kindly and faith- 
fully aided in this effort. For all the townships except 
North the enrollment is complete and satisfactory. A 
perfect enrollment in North township for the year 1890 
could not be obtained. There are eleven schools and 
many children attending more than one school. The 
enrollment and estimate give to this township a larger 
number in school than did the official August report, 
and so a discrepancy in results will necessarily appear. I 
may fittingly claim a large acquaintance with the past 
as well as the present members of our schools; and as I 
look at the names of so many of our gifted young chil- 
dren recorded here, and feel sure that some at least of 
them will fill high and honorable positions, I long to say, 
Beloved children, be sure to give to the coming King 
your choicest, richest, best. Like the children that 
were once in the Jewish Temple, be ready to say, 
Hosannah to the Son of David! 



CHURCH DIRECTORY. 



BUILDINGS AND PASTORS. 

1. Eagle Creek township contains no village, no 
saloon, no railroad station, no church. 

The preaching places are three: The school house at 
Plum Grove, Rev. T. H. Ball, pastor; the Center school 
house, Rev. J. N. Buchanan, pastor; and Eagle Creek 
school house. At the Southeast Grove school house, 
which for many years was a church and Sunday-school 
center, preaching has been discontinued. In this town- 
ship there is much of the richest farming land of the 
county and many intelligent, cultivated, and Christian 
families; but for good and sufficient reasons they have 
as yet erected no church building. 

2. In Cedar Creek township there are five church 
buildings: The Baptist in Lowell, 1856, no pastor; the 
Methodist Episcopal at Lowell, built in 1870, pastor 
Rev. J. J. Thompson; the Christian at Lowell, 1870, 
pastor Rev. W. A. Hennegar; the Catholic at Lowell, 
1869, pastor Rev. Charles A. Ganzer; and the Creston 
church, 1876, occupied mainly by the Methodists, the 
pastor being the resident Methodist pastor at Lowell. 

3 . In West Creek there is no saloon and its only 
village is a part -of Creston. Church buildings two: 
The West Creek Methodist Episcopal, present building 
dating 1869, the earlier one 1843, the pastor being the 
resident pastor at Lowell, and the Lake Prairie Presby- 
terian church, 1872, pastor Rev. J. E. Smith. The 
first pastor of this church, Rev. H. Wason, who became 
pastor in 1857, still resides near the church and school 

179 



180 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

house, in his beautiful Lake Prairie home. He has seen 
many changes and has been a part of much of the im- 
provement that has been made during his residence on 
Lake Prairie of three and thirty years. A pastor, a 
Christian minister, residing in one place for a third of 
a century becomes a great power for good. 

4. In Hanover are four church builings: The Cedar 
Lake German Methodist, 1855, pastor Rev. A. Peters, 
residing in Crown Point; Zions Church, Reformed, 1859, 
pastor Rev. H. C. Schmidt ; the Catholic church of 
St. Anthony at Klaasville, 1861, pastor Rev. Charles A. 
Ganzer, and the Church of St. Martin, Catholic, at 
Hanover Center, 1869, pastor Rev. M. Zumbuelte. 

5. In St. Johns township the churches are three, all 
Catholic: Church of St. John the Evangelist, at St. 
Johns, first chapel 1843, present brick church 1856, 
pastor Rev. A. Heitmann; Church of St. Joseph at 
Dyer, 1867, pastor Rev. Joseph Flach; and Church of 
St. Michael, at Schererville, 1874, pastor Rev. W. 
Berg. 

6. In Center township are ten churches: the Pres- 
byterian, 1847, the present building 1885, pastor Rev. 
L. W. A. Luckey; the Methodist Episcopal, 1847, 
present building 1860, pastor Rev. Demetrius Tillotson; 
the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Catholic, 1867, 
a large brick edifice in process of erection this year, 
spire one hundred and forty-one feet in height, to be 
completed in 1891, pastor Rev. Phillip Geuthoff; the 
Trinity Church, Lutheran, 1869, present large brick 
structure, 1886, pastor Rev. G. Heintz since 1871, suc- 
ceeded this fall by Rev. August Shuelke, but continu- 
ing a resident in Crown Point; the North Street Bap- 
tist, 1873; German Methodist, 1874, pastor Rev. A. 
Peters; German Evangelical, 1874, pastor Rev. John 
Lutz; Main Street Baptist, 1881; Free Methodist, 1881, 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OE LAKE. 181 

pastor Rev. George Day; all these in Crown Point; and 
Evangelical Church of St. Paul, 1883, pastor Rev. J. 
A. Reller, since August Rev. P. Weild. 

7. In Winfield are four churches: the Le Roy 
Methodist, 1888, pastor the resident Methodist pastor 
at Hebron; the Le Roy United Presbyterian, 1888, pas- 
tor Rev. J. N. Buchauan; the Deer Creek Methodist 
Episcopal, 1880, pastor Rev. D. Tillotson; and St. 
Paul's Church at Deer Creek, 1886, pastor Rev. G-. 
Heintz. 

8. In Ross township are two churches: the Meth- 
odist Episcopal at Merrillville, 1879, pastor Rev. Robert 
Wilkinson; Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, 
Catholic, at Turkey Creek, first building 1852, present 
building of Joliet stone, 1864, pastor Rev. Charles V. 
Stetter, D. D. 

9. In Hobart township there are ten churches; in 
the town of Hobart eight; the Methodist Episcopal, 1869, 
pastor Rev. R. C.Wilkinson; the Unitarian, 1876, pastor 
Rev. T. G. Milford; Trinity Church, German Lutheran, 
1874, pastor Rev. E . H. Scheips; Swedish Lutheran, 

1873, pastor Rev. A. J. Malmquist; German Methodist, 

1874, pastor Rev. A. Peters; Swedish Methodist, 1889, 
pastor Rev. John Swanson; the Congregational, 1880, 
remodeled 1889, pastor Rev. D. W. Andrews; Church of 
St. Bridget, Catholic, 18 — , pastor Rev. C. Y. Stetter. 
In Lake Station, two, Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, 
Catholic, 1861, pastor Rev. C. V. Stetter; the People's 
Church, undenominational, 18 — . 

10. In Calumet are two churches: German Evangel- 
ical St. John's Church, at Tolleston, 1869, pastor Rev. 
A. Rump; Congregational at Ross, about 1880, a 
"Union Mission Church" or "Band" organization and 
house having lately become Congregational, pastor Rev. 
D. W. Andrews. 



182 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

11. Ill North township are fourteen churches: 
In Hammond nine, Church of St. Joseph, Catholic, 
1879, new, two story brick building for church and 
school, 1889, pastor Eev. H. Plaster; Lutheran, 1883, 
new brick building, south side, 1889, pastor Rev. F. W. 
Herzberger; Methodist Episcopal, 1883, pastor Eev. G-. 

R. Streeter; German Methodist, 1889, pastor Rev. 

Haas; Baptist, 1887, pastor Rev.B. P. Hewitt; Congrega- 
tional, 1890, pastor Rev. W. A. Boroughs; Episcopalian, 
1890, pastor Rev. R. C. Wall; Plymouth Church, Con- 
gregational, 1890, pastor Rev. H. A. Holcomb; Lutheran 
Church, north side, 1889, pastor Rev. W. A. Brauer; 
three in East Chicago, Methodist Episcopal, 1890, 
pastor Rev. Reno; Congregational, 1889, pastor Rev. 
J. H. Simons, August 16, 1890; Catholic Church, 
consecrated October 26, 1890, Rev. Trembler pas- 
tor; at Whiting, one, Congregational, 1890, pastor Rev. 
D. A. Holman, and Hollander Reformal Church, near 
Lansing, 1876, pastor Rev. William Dunnewold. 

Total number of church buildings, fifty-six. 

Number of resident ministers, thirty-nine; twelve of 
these residing in North township where a few years ago 
there was not one. In Center township there are now 
ten, the first resident minister and pastor, Rev. Nor- 
man Warriner, having had a home in Crown Point as 
early as 1841. In Hobart there are five; in Calumet only 
one; in Cedar Creek one; in Ross one; Eagle Creek and 
Winfield have no resident ministers . The other town- 
ships have three each. 

STAGES OF PROGRESS, 
In 1840 there were in Lake county no church build- 
ings, a few log school houses. Perhaps two Sunday 
schools, perhaps four. There was one Baptist church 
organization; there were probably three Methodist 
classes. Population 1,468. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 183 

In 1870 twenty church buildings, ten resident pas- 
tors, forty places for religious meetings, thirty Sunday 
schools, about twenty-five hundred families. Popula- 
tion 12,339. 

In 1890 forty-five schools, fifty-six churches, resident 
ministers thirty-nine, sixty places for Sabbath meetings. 
Population 23,886. 

Protestant schools not connected with County Con- 
vention: Unitarian School at Hobart, members, 1&0. 

EVANGELICAL SCHOOLS OR REFORMED . 

German: 1. Zion's Church, parochial and Sunday 
school, 30. 

2. St. Paul's Church, parochial school, 12; Sun- 
day school, 25. 

Dutch or Hollander: 3. Reformed church east of 
Lansing, Sunday-school children, 30. 

GERMAN LUTHERAN. 

4. Trinity Church at Crown Point, parochial 
school, 51; Sunday school, 80. 

5. Tolleston parochial school and Sunday school, 
each 54. 

6. Trinity Church parochial school at Hobart, 40. 

7. Lutheran at Hammond, south side, parochial 
school, 95; Sunday school, 150. 

8. Lutheran at Hammond, north side, parochial 
school, 62. 

9. Lutheran at Robinson Prairie school house, 
Sunday school, 12. 

10. Deer Creek Lutheran, 16. 

11. Whiting Lutheran (estimated), 39. 

12. Swedish Lutheran at Hobart, parochial school, 
25; Sunday school, 60. 

13. Swedish Lutheran at Lake, 12. 



Girls. 


Total. 


154 


328 


44 


80 


43 


84 


20 


44 


88 


190 



184 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

14. Swedish Lutheran at Miller's Station (esti- 
mated), 20. Total, 571. 

Children in Catholic schools: 

Townships. Boys. 

St. Johns (3) 174 

Hanover (2) 36 

Center (1).: 41 

Ross (1) 24 

North (1) 102 

Schools, 8 377 349 726 

In Calumet, Hobart, Winfield, Eagle Creek, Cedar 

Creek, West Creek, there are no chuich schools. 

Estimating the instructed children in Lowell, Hobart, 

Lake, and East Chicago at 74 

and we have a total of 800 

Lutheran and Reformed 571 

Estimating instructed children at "Whiting and Miller's 

Station 59 

and we have a total of 630 

In all, of schools not connected with Convention 1550 

Reported in August in our schools, including teachers 
and officers 2570 

Total 4120 

Number of children in the county between six and 
twenty-one years of age 6753 

Children, then, with no school instruction 2633 

These are children all, and they are in number more 
than all in our Convention schools, officers and teachers 
included. 

SCHOOLS OF THE PRESENT. 

(Arranged as to townships.( 
NORTH TOWNSHIP. 

1. Hammond M. E. 

2. German M. E. 

3. First Congregational. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 185 

4. Plymouth Congregational. 

5. Hammond Baptist. 

6. St. Paul's Mission. 

7. Hammond Christian. 

8. East Chicago M. E. 

9. East Chicago Congregational. 

10. Whiting Congregational. 

11. Highland Union. 



1. Hammond Catholic. 

2. North Side Lutheran. 

3. South Side Lutheran. 

4. Hollander Reformed. 

5. Whiting Lutheran. 

CALUMET TOWNSHIP. 

12. Ross Congregational. 

6. Tolleston Lutheran. 

HOBART TOWNSHIP. 

13. Lake Home Union. 

14. Hobart M. E. 

15. Hobart German M. E. 

16. Hobart Swede M. E. 

17. Hobart Congregational. 

18. Hobart Unitarian. 



7. Hobart German Lutheran. 

8. Hobart Swede Lutheran. 

9. Lake Swede Lutheran. 

10. Miller's Station Lutheran. 

EOSS TOWNSHIP 

19. Deep River Union. 

20. Hurlburt Union. 

21. Merrillville M. E. 

22. Butler Union. 

11. Turkey Creek Catholic. 



186 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

ST. JOHNS TOWNSHIP. 

23. Dyer Union. 

12. Dyer Catholic. 

13. St. Johns Catholic. 

14. Schererville Catholic. 

HANOVER TOWNSHIP. 

24. Cedar Lake German M. E. 

15. Hanover Center Catholic 

16. Klaasville Catholic. 

17. Hanover Evangelical Lutheran. 

CENTER TOWNSHIP. 

25. Crown Point M. E. 

26. Crown Point Presbyterian. 

27. Crown Point Eree Methodist. 

28. Crown Point German M. E. 

29. Crown Point German Evangelical. 

30. Cheshire Hall. 

31. School in the Woods. 

18. Crown Point Catholic. 

19. Crown Point Lutheran. 

20. St. Paul Evangelical. 

WINFIELD TOWNSHIP. 

32. Le Roy Methodist Episcopal. 

33. LeRoy United Presbyterian. 

21. Deer Creek Lutheran. 

EAGLE CREEK TOWNSHIP 

34. Plum Grove Union. 

35. Eagle Creek Union. 

CEDAR CREEK TOWNSHIP. 

'36. Orchard Grove M. E. 

37. Egypt Union. 

38. Lowell M. E. 

39. Lowell Union. 

40. Cedar Lake Union. 

22. Robinson -Prairie Lutheran. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 187 

WEST CREEK TOWNSHIP. 

41. Lake Prairie Presbyterian. 

42. Bruce Union. 

43. Pine Grove Union. 

44. Oak Grrove Union. 

45. West Creek M. E. 

SCHOOLS OF THE PAST. 

(Arranged as to Townships.) 
NORTH TOWNSHIP. 

Sheffield, Lake George, Hessville, Ousley,lst German 
M. E , 5 

CALUMET TOWNSHIP. 

Sand Ridge, Clark Station 2 

HOBART TOWNSHIP. 

Ensigns, Lake Station 2 

ROSS TOWNSHIP. 

Hickory Top, Vincent's, Adams, Underwood's, Hand- 
ley's, 1st Butler's 6 

st. john's township. 
1st Dyer school 1 

HANOYER TOWNSHIP. 

Graves or Upper West Creek, Brunswick 2 

CENTER TOWNSHIP. 

Center Prairie, Prairie View, Red Cedar, Crown 
Point Baptist, Main Street Baptist, North Street 
Baptist, Rhode's Mission 7 

WINFIELD TOWNSHIP. 

Deer Creek, Pleasant Prairie, Hickory Point 3 

EAGLE CREEK TOWNSHIP. 

Southeast Grove, Center or Bryant's, Morrison's, 1st 
Eagle Creek, 1st Plum Grove 5 

CEDAR CREEK TOWNSHIP. 

Pleasant Grove, Robinson's Prairie, 1st Lowell 
Union, Clark's, Jones', Buckley's, Shelby .... 7 



188 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

WEST CREEK TOWNSHIP. 

Fuller's or Lower West Creek, 1st Oak Grove, Bun- 
combe, River Ridge, Livingston's 5 



Total , 45 

Several of these schools, not now in existence, have 
been briefly noticed . In regard to others of these forty- 
five schools, the names of their officers and even the 
facts of their very existence have already passed out of the 
knowledge of most of the present generation of our 
Sunday-school army. 

Their names are rescued from oblivion. The good 
they did yet lives on earth, is known in heaven. A few 
of these are only closed at present for the want of offi- 
cers to carry them on . 

("Oh, where are the reapers?") 

But now we count forty-five schools of the past and 
forty-five of the present. 

If a stranger should ask, "Why are so many schools 
discontinued, in only fifty years, in so rapidly growing 
and prosperous a county as Lake?" the answer would be: 
Because the early pioneer centers for schools and relig- 
ious meetings are not our centers of population now, in 
these days of fourteen railroads; and because in many 
neighborhoods the pioneer American religious famil- 
ies, who sustained Sunday schools, have given place to 
other families from the Old World, some of whom have 
their church schools in the large railroad centers, some 
of whom have no schools. 

Christianity is not dying out in Lake county. As 
will be seen in the church directory, we have built fifty- 
six churches in fifty-six years of Christian occupancy. 
We have now forty-five Sunday schools, and eight 
Catholic schools, and fourteen Lutheran and Reformed 
schools, in all sixty-seven schools where the Christian 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 189 

religion is taught. Adding to these the forty-five of 
the past and we have had in fifty years one hundred 
and twelve schools. Adding to our fifty-six church 
buildings twelve others removed or used for other pur- 
poses, and it appears that we have had in fifty-six years, 
schools, 112; and church buildings, 68. 

The exact figures of the last May enumeration of 
children between six and twenty-one years of age, as 
kindly furnished for this work by the Superintendent 
of the Public Schools, F. E. Cooper, are the following: 
North township, ..... 1,945 

Calumet, ------, 301 

Hobart, -..._- 653 

Ross, ------- 504 

St. Johns, ------ 650 

Hanover, - - - - - - 328 

Center, - - - - - - 1,051 

Winfield, ------ 187 

Eagle Creek, - 184 

Cedar Creek, ...... 546 

West Creek, ------ 404 

Total, - - - - - - 6,753. 

These may be placed at the present time, October, 
1890, in round numbers thus: 
North, ----.. 2,000 

Hobart, 650 

St. Johns ------ 650 

Center .--... 1050 

Eagle Creek, ----- 190 

West Creek ...... 400 

Calumet, - 300 

Ross, ...--.. 500 

Hanover, --.... 330 

Winfield, - 190 

Cedar Creek, ..... 550 

Total, - 6,800 

And all these, it should be remembered, are over six 
and under twenty-one years of age, while in our Sunday 



190 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 



schools are many under six and more than twenty-one 
years of age. 

The number in the schools in the different townships, 
including the Catholic and Lutheran children, is the 
following: 

North 1,425 

Hobart. 670 

St. Johns 370 

Center 597 

Eagle Creek 85 

West Creek. 



Calumet 115 

Boss 436 

Hanover 150 

Winfield 96 

Cedar Creek 431 

...192. 

Total 4,567. 

Hundreds of these are over twenty-one years of age. 
In Ross township the proportion of men and women to 
the children is large. 

The entire population of Lake county, according to 
the United States Census of this year, is the following, 
and, as it maybe a matter of interest to see our changes, 
the population for 1880 is also given: 



1890. 1880. 1890. 


1880. 


North 9,631 2,540 Center 2,894 


2,854 


Calumet.... 944 Winfield 583 


544 


Hobart 2,197 1,650 Eagle Creek. 647 


721 


Boss 1,427 1,584 Cedar Creek. 1,691 


1,457 


St. Johns. ..1,686 1,513 West Creek.. 1,201 


1,219 


TTnnnwr 0*3^ T OOQ 








Total.... 23,886 15,091 


The population of our towns is the following: 




1890. 1880. 1890. 


1880. 


Lowell 761 458 Hobart 1,010 


600 


East Chicago.. 1,255 Whiting 1,408 


115 


Crown Point. .1,907 1,708 Hammond. . .5,428 


699 


Ward 1,...2,048 




Ward 2.... 1,242 




Ward 3.... 2,138 





.THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 191 

It may be well for us, while examining our religious 
work and growth, to look at a few more facts as brought 
out by the Census reports. In 1880 there were twenty- 
one counties only in Indiana, with less inhabitants than 
Lake county. Or, from the head of the list of counties, 
ranged as to population, Lake county was the seventy- 
first. Now Lake county is thirty-fifth in rank, with 
fifty-seven below in population . 

In ten years Lake county has increased in inhabit- 
ants 8,795. Five counties only, Allen, Madison, Marion, 
St. Joseph, and Vanderburg, have increased more in 
number. The per cent, of increase for Lake county is 
58.28. The next largest per cent, is 43.76. Porter 
county has increased in the last ten years in population 
only 825, and has a population of only 18,052. Ten 
years ago La Porte county had twice the population of 
Lake (30,985). It has increased in these years only 
3,460, or 11.17 per cent. In railroads, in growth for 
the last ten years, in a continuous organized Sunday- 
school growth and work, Lake county stands first in 
Indiana. 

Some curious results appear in dividing the number 
of the population in each township by three and com- 
paring the quotients with the number of children in 
each township. In Hanover and West Creek the num- 
bers are nearly the same. But in North Township, to 
obtain the approximate number of children, the popu- 
lation must be divided by five. And the population of 
St. John's township needs to be divided by two and a 
half, or more accurately by two and six-tenths.) 

Let us look once more over our eleven townships, at 
some figures, in their connection, not flattering. 



520 


Center, 


- 453 


186 


Winfield, 


91 


000 


Eagle Creek, 


99 


68 


Cedar Creek, - 


115 


280 


West Creek, 


- 212 


178 







192 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

Number of children without religious instruction. 
North, 
Calumet, 
Hobart, 
Boss, 

St. Johns, - 
Hanover, 

Total, 

This total from August report was 2,633. 

Take, now, from the reported school attendance the 
number of those over twenty-one and under six years of 
age, and also the number counted twice in Hobart, 
Hammond, and Crown Point, where many attend two 
schools, and add those two numbers to the smaller of 
the above totals, and then add also the number of 
children under six years of age yet having sufficient 
maturity to receive religious instruction, and there will 
be a total of fully 3,000. 

After fifty years of effort — may it be called diligent 
and prayerful effort? — in one of the best school and 
church counties of Indiana, here is an unpleasant array 
of figures. 

The enrollment of most of our schools, name by 
name, is here; the numbers given for the Catholic and 
Lutheran and Reformed are, for the most part, official; 
and the public-school enumeration can not be ques- 
tioned. Figures and facts are sometimes stubborn 
things . We of Lake county will do well to look these 
in the face. In Crown Point we have Young People's 
Christian Endeavor Societies, and King's Daughters, 
and send yearly our special contributions for foreign 
missions, — and this is surely well, — and have sent mis- 
sionaries to India, and have had in 1890 one small 
school in the township outside of Crown Point, among 
four hundred children, six hundred and fifty being 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OP LAKE. 193 

within the town. It is true that in all our townships 
there are some extenuating circumstances; but it is also 
true that we are not doing what we easily might do, 
what we surety ought to do, for the hundreds — the 
three thousand — for whose spiritual welfare few 
seem to care. There is not one Mission Sunday School 
in Lake county. 

Yet the Sunday-school work in Lake has surely not 
been in vain. The Methodist, Baptist, and Presbyterian 
pioneers laid foundations that are enduring. Among 
them were men and women of thorough education, of 
strong force of character; others were uncultivated but 
strong in religious principle; and in the name of the 
Lord they set up their banners. The results of the 
teachings, of the prayers, of the Christian songs, of the 
good examples set, by those who have already entered 
into rest, and by those who are soon to cease from their 
labors, can by no human mind be estimated. But well 
do we know that of such, their (i labor is not in vain in 
the Lord." 

ERRORS CORRECTED. 

By some slip of pen or pencil, on page 92 the date 
of organization of the " Christian" school at Hammond 
is given as the date of organization of the church. The 
following record gives the correction : li December 5, 
1888, was organized at Hammond a Christian church, 
the second in Lake county." 

Under the heading " Schools of the Past," page 65, 
forty-five schools are named. To these may be added, 
in Center township, School Grove ; in Winfield, Pleas- 
ant Hill; in West Creek, Mrs. Bonham's; in North, 
Ewen's ; in Hobart, Oak Ridge ; at least five more, 
making fifty of these schools. See extracts from reports 
and from secretary's journal where these are mentioned. 



194 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

If some inquiring young reader should ask why this 
correction was not made when " Schools of the Past " 
was written, the answer is, because this book was not 
written nor the type set up in the order of the pages. 

OUR MISSION WORK. 

The American Sunday-School Union in 1888 gave a 
commission to the Lake county Secretary, appointing 
him as Missionary for that society in northwestern 
Indiana. In Lake county he had the Lake county por- 
tions of those two noted river valleys known as the 
Calumet Region and the Kankakee Region. Both of 
these have been noted in many past years for fur-bear- 
ing animals and for wild water fowls. The Calumet 
Region of late has come into note for commerce and 
manufactures. 

In the Kankakee Region of Lake county, between 
the " shore " line and the river, are now living about 
sixty families. Nearly every family the Missionary has 
visited. There are now four district schools, and three 
Sunday schools are or have been. When laud can be 
bought here and residents can all become landholders, 
there may then soon be five times sixty families, and 
then the era of church-building will surely commence. 
There will be five, perhaps seven, centers for schools and 
for religious meetings, and a few hundred children will 
need care and cultivation . If the large land owners of 
the present prove to be patriotic and philanthropic, this 
large area of lowlands, of island groves, of sandy 
ridges, of bayous, and of muskrat and mink and raccoon 
homes, of trees stored with the wild bees' hone)V of long- 
reaches of river solitudes, with bright, sunny bathing- 
places and fishing grounds in summer time, will soon be 
a prosperous and highly desirable portion of the county. 
Here, in a few years, may be found the gardens and the 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 195 

pasture grounds to supply the manufacturers in the 
Calumet Region with vegetables and fruits and melons, 
with milk and butter and honey, with flowers and beef 
and hay. Here, too, will be large and rich fields of 
grain. 

The temptations in this region will be somewhat 
peculiar, and here will be needed those safeguards and 
restraints which faithful Sunday-school teaching will 
place around the homes, that now are and are yet to be, 
for securing the virtue of childhood and youth. It will 
never do to give up the precious, promising young chil- 
dren, that even now are here, to the temptations around 
them, to the forces of evil. Sunday schools and churches 
must be here, and who will help in this " Mission 
Work?" Contributions for this Kankakee Valley work 
have been received by the present missionary of the 
American Sunday-School Union from the near Chicago 
and from distant Boston, and from New York City a 
subscription promise has been received for aid in build- 
ing the first proposed church. Near by are men of 
means who have financial interests along this Kanka- 
kee, and they ought to show an interest in the welfare 
of the children. 

Contributions for this work can be made direct to 
the missionary at Crown Point, whose field extends into 
Newton and Jasper and Starke counties, and into La 
Porte and Porter. In the valley portion of these counties 
there is work in abundance for more than one to do. 

Contributions may be sent also to the society, The 
American Sunday-School Union, 1122 Chestnut street, 
Philadelphia, a society that sustains about one hundred 
missionaries, that publishes excellent library books, and 
that furnishes the best of undenominational papers, quar- 
terlies, and lesson helps for hundreds of thousands of 



196 THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

children. It is recognized by very many that this society, 
with " its long and honorable history," is " the most 
effective agency in our land for the gathering and sav- 
ing of the neglected children. " Business men of Chi- 
cago, like Carson, Pirie, Scott & Company, like Marshall 
Field, and many others, give nobly to sustain its mis- 
sionaries. Will not the prosperous citizens of this 
rapidly growing Lake county look after the interests of 
their own Kankakee Valley field? 



PUBLICATIONS OF AM. S. S. UNION. 

The Sunday -School Missionary, monthly, ten cents 
a year. 

The Sunday-School World for teachers, five copies, 
14 cents each for three months. 

Young People's Paper, weekly, five copies, one dol- 
lar a year. 

The Picture World, for Little People. Five copies, 
75 cents for one year. 

Scholars' Lesson Paper, four-page monthly, ten copies 
to one address, 40 cents a year, or one-third of a cent 
a copy. 

Primary Lesson Paper, an eight-page monthly, for 
ten copies, 60 cents a year. 

The Union Quarterly, eight at 30 cents a quarter. 

Primary Quarterly, four at 10 cents a quarter. 

Subscriptions received at Crown Point or at Phil- 
adelphia. T. H. Ball, Missionary. 



Lake of the Red Cedars, T. H. Ball, Publisher. 
Sent by mail on receipt of fifty cents. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 



197 



CONTENTS. 



PAGE. 




PAGE. 


Introductory Notes 


7 


School in the Woods, 


74 


S. S. Pioneers 


8 


Cedar Lake German M. 


E., 75 


Center Prairie, 


16 


Oak Grove, 


76 


Presbyterian School, 


18 


Shelby Union, 


77 


Mrs. H. W. Holton, 


20 


Robinson Prairie, 


79 


Fifty Years Around Cedar 




Dora Seeger's, 


80 


Lake, 


26 


Le Roy Union, 


83 


Pleasant Grove, 


33 


Eagle Creek, 


83 


The Grove Schools, 


35 


Hurlburt, 


84 


Center School, 


40 


Schools at Ross, 


85 


Merrillville School, 


40 


Woodvale, 


86 


Hobart Schools, 


43 


Schools of 1888, 


87 


Lake Home, 


46 


Sheffield School, 


88 


Lowell Schools, 


49 


Lake George, 


88 


Lake Prairie, 


54 


Hammond Schools, 


89 


Buncombe Union, 


55 


East Chicago, 


92 


Pine Grove, 


55 


Whiting School, 


93 


Egypt Union, 


57 


S. S. Convention, 


93 


Butler Union, 


57 


Places of Meeting, 


98 


Dyer Union, 


58 


Constitution, 


94 


Clarke Union, 


59 


Conv. Presidents, 


94 


Ousiey Union, 


59 


Summary of Officers, 


98 


Handley School, 


60 


Extracts from Conv. 


Rec- 


Jones School, 


60 


ords, 


101 


WEST CKEEK. 




Missionary Address, 


106 


West Side Schools, 


61 


Sowers and Reapers, 


119 


West Creek M. E., 


64 


Semi-Centennial Song, 


123 


Schools of the Past, 


65 


Addenda, 


125 


Crown Point M. E., 


69 


Abstracts of Reports, 


125 


Crown Point Baptist Schools 71 


Journal Extracts, 


130 


Crown Point German M. E 


. 73 


School Enrollments, 


136 


Crown Point Ev., 


73 


Church Directory, 


179 


Crown Point F. M., 


73 


Reformed Schools, 


183 



198 



THE SUtfftAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 



Lutheran Schools, 
Catholic Schools, 
Schools of the Present, 
Schools of the Past, 
P. S. Enumeration, 



PAGE. PAGE. - 

183 U. S. Census Figures, 190 

184 Children Without Religious 
184 Instruction, 192 
187 Errors Corrected, 193 
189 Our Mission Work. 194 



The last date on page 68 should be 1867. 




GRACE M. HAYDEN, 

Born January 25, 1881; Died May 19, 1890. 

Member of West Creek School. 



THE 8UXDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 199 




MRS. M. J. DINWIDDLE, 
Died March 15 , 1888; about 70 years of age. 



Gone in the ripeness of a rounded life; 

Gone in the fulness of a goodly age, 
Gone from this world of sorrow and of strife; 

Gone to receive a deathless heritage. 

Gone from earth's joys, and from its pain and cares; 

Gone from its broken bands, its light and love; 
Gone from its beauties, and its toils and snares; 

Gone to a brighter, lovelier world above. 

In all our gatherings one more vacant place; 

She will go in and out at home no more; 
But she now sees the Saviour's glorious face; 

She rests in peace upon the deathless shore. 

For her we need not mourn, we need not weep, 

So safe, so blissful in that ' better land;' 
Let us make sure that when in death we sleep, 

We too, may enter 'mid the ' happy band.' " 

— "Poem* and Hymns," page 181. 



200 THE SFtfDAY SCHOOLS OF LAKE. 

WHEN I AM DEAD. 

" How much would I care for it, could I know 
That when I am under the grass or the snow — 
The ravelled garments of life's brief day 
Folded and quietly laid away, 
The spirit let loose from mortal bars, 
And somewhere away among the stars — 
How much do you think it would matter then 
What praise was lavished upon me, when, 
Whatever might be its stint or store, 
It neither could help nor harm me more ? 

If, while I was toiling, they had but thought 

To stretch out a ringer, I would have caught 

Gladly such aid, to buoy me through 

Some bitter duty I had to do: — 

Though when it was done they said (maybe 

To others), they never said to me, 

The word of applause, so craved, whose worth 

Had been the supremest boon of earth, 

If granted me then — c We are proud to know 

That one of ourselves has triumphed so/ 

What use for the rope, if it be not flung 

Till the swimmer's grasp to the rock has clung ? 

What help in comrades' bugle blast, 

When the peril of Alpine heights is past ? 

What need that the spurring psean roll, 

When the runner is safe beyond his goal ? 

What worth in eulogy's bluntest breath, 

When whispered in ears that are hushed in death ? 

No! no! If you have but a word of cheer, 

Speak it while I am alive to hear/' 



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